Despite the UK achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target 2 years before the 2020 deadline, it is estimated that in 2018, 7%(95% CrI 5.2–11%) of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the UK remained unaware of their HIV status and 43% were diagnosed at a late stage of infection [1]. Given the benefits of treatment, both to an individual’s health and to public health, more needs to be done to ensure that all those with HIV are diagnosed promptly and can rapidly access treatment and care. Similarly, those who test negative but remain at risk should have equitable access to combination prevention (including pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP]). In the absence of further progress on these fronts, the target of HIV elimination will not be reached any time soon, and certainly not by 2030.

All healthcare workers should be able to offer an HIV test in their setting. Pre-test discussion is not required. Individuals should be made aware that they will be tested for HIV and informed how they will receive their result; for clinical settings, opt-out testing is the most effective method to increase testing coverage. Community testing and self-sampling and testing may increase access to testing for specific groups.