Key points

HIV community testing continues to be an important tool in HIV prevention in Ireland

• 3,142 community-based HIV tests carried out by five partner organisations, representing a 2-fold increase compared to 2021 (n=1,433).
• The highest proportion of tests were carried out in International Protection Accommodation Services (36.4%), followed by non-governmental organisational (NGO) headquarters (18.7%) and bars/clubs (18.4%)

Twenty individuals had reactive test results, giving an overall HIV test reactivity rate of 0.6%, similar to 2021 (0.7%).

• Highest rate in sauna/sex-on-premises settings (2.6%), followed by bars/clubs (1.4%), and LGBT community resource centres (1.2%)
• By key population group, highest rate among migrants coming from a country of high HIV prevalence (1.4%), followed by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) (1.3%)
• Of the 20 individuals who had reactive tests, 14 were newly diagnosed, 5 were previously diagnosed, 1 unknown

Excluding the five individuals identified as having been previously diagnosed with HIV, the reactivity rate was 0.5%.

• By gender, higher rate in males (0.6%) than females (0.1%)
• By key population group, highest rate among gbMSM (1.1%), followed by migrants from countries of high HIV prevalence (0.9%)