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We evaluated the management of antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve HIV-positive patients in Greater Manchester against the 2005 British HIV association (BHIVA) guidelines. Fifty-seven HIV patients (median age 36 years, 61% males, 53% black Africans) commenced their first ART regimen between 1 October and 31 December 2005. Most of them presented with advanced HIV disease (74% had CD4 lymphocytes ,200 and 33% were Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stage C) and 51% commenced ART within three months of their HIV diagnosis. Ninety-six percent had baseline laboratory investigations performed but only 53% had baseline blood pressure estimation. Only 25% had urinalysis performed. A combination of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) and one non-NRTI was chosen in 76% of patients. Eighty-two percent of patients had a clinical review and blood tests within five weeks of starting treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]