Whitlock G, et al. - Via performing a retrospective case-note review of patients newly diagnosed with HIV infection at 56 Dean Street (56DS) following the initiation of the new rapid initiation option (RIO) from July to October 2016, researchers sought to determine the new service affected ART uptake. For this work, a comparison group of newly diagnosed patients at 56DS from 1 year earlier was chosen: July to October 2015. The 4 months following RIO introduction, vs the same 4-month period 1 year previously, showed a reduction in the median time from HIV diagnosis to the first medical appointment (7 vs 15 days) and to ART initiation (8 vs 21 days). In addition, a significant increase in the uptake of ART at first appointment was observed from 60% to 76%. Based on these observations, they conclude that the aim of RIO service to offer ART more quickly following HIV diagnosis was fulfilled as the service led to an increase in the clinic capacity and awareness of staff and patients.