Preliminary results from the new HIV surveillance system in France.

In addition to AIDS surveillance, data on HIV infection are necessary to better follow the dynamics of the epidemic. We report the first results of France's mandatory anonymous HIV notification system, which is linked to a virological surveillance of recent HIV infections and of circulating HIV types, groups and subtypes. HIV notifications are initiated by microbiologists who create an anonymous code of patient's identity. Clinicians complete the notification form with epidemiological and clinical data. Notifications are sent to the local health authorities and passed to the Institut de Veille Sanitaire (InVS).