Testing for HIV could be introduced routinely in GPs’ surgeries and hospitals under government plans to screen the population for the condition.

Ministers are concerned that more than a quarter of people with HIV do not know they are carrying the virus and are passing it on to their sexual partners.

A pilot screening programme, which is expected to be extended across the country if it is a success, will target gay men and black Africans who have a higher than average chance of carrying HIV.

The pilot, to be held at GPs’ surgeries and hospitals in Leicester, in Brighton, where there is a large gay population, and in Lewisham, southeast London, which has a large black African community, will begin in the next few weeks.

Health workers are concerned that some HIV sufferers are infecting multiple sexual partners without knowing they have the virus. If left untreated, HIV — which has few symptoms — can turn into Aids.

Testing is carried out mainly in sexual health clinics at the instigation of the patient. But ministers want it to become more routine and to be subject to an opt-out for those who do not want to be tested.

Gillian Merron, the public health minister, will examine the results of the tests to gauge public reaction.

“We estimate that around one quarter of HIV cases are undiagnosed — so it’s important we reduce this so people can get the treatment they need,” she said.

Hospitals will ask patients, including those with serious illnesses or brought into accident and emergency rooms, to be tested for HIV.

Gay men in Sheffield are to be offered HIV home-sampling testing kits.

The Terrence Higgins Trust, which raises awareness about HIV, said a targeted screening programme would lead to lives being saved. There are believed to be 77,000 people living with HIV in the UK. More than 25,000 people have developed Aids and 18,787 have died.

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