London, Oct 2 : More than a quarter of over 77,000 people infected with HIV remain undiagnosed in Britain.

Almost a third (31 percent) are being diagnosed late with HIV, which implies their missing out on benefits associated with early diagnosis, including longer life expectancy.

Britain's National Guidelines for HIV Testing, under publication, will encourage health professionals who work in areas other than HIV, to consider HIV testing as routine when making a diagnosis.

Adrian Palfreeman of British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) and co-author of the guidelines, explained: "Many people in the UK are HIV infected but don't find this out until too late for treatment to have its best chance of working.

"A young person diagnosed with HIV in 2009 can expect a near normal life expectancy, but early detection is the key to achieve this. The problem is many patients are missing early diagnosis and this impacts their chances of survival."

Martin Fisher of British HIV Association (BHIVA), and co-author of the guidelines, said: "Doctors should see HIV testing as part of routine screening when making a diagnosis," says a BHIVA release.

These guidelines were published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.(IANS)