Acceptability of clinics for sexually transmitted diseases among users of the "gay scene" in the West Midlands.

I welcome the imminent arrival of type specific antibody tests for herpes' which will help in the management of certain clinical situations. However, I am not convinced that these tests should be used to screen large sections of the population until a more thorough evaluation of the costs, benefits, and harm that such a programme would generate has been undertaken. There are other pressing needs in sexual health and GU medicine cannot afford to back a poor horse. Given the high prevalence of HSV 2 in STD clinic patients further attention to promoting safer sex in these patients and in the wider population may be more beneficial than costly technological interventions. DAVID M COKER Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Furness General Hospital, Dalton Lane, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria 1 Ashley RL, Corey L. HSV type specific antibody tests: patients are ready, are clinicians? Genitourin Med 1997;73:235-6.