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Objectives This cross-sectional study was designed to pilot the analysis of clinical data, knowledge about and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, and prevention and risk behaviour in persons recently infected with HIV. Methods Blood samples and demographic, laboratory, clinical and behavioural data were collected from patients with newly diagnosed HIV infections. The BED IgG-capture ELISA (BED-CEIA) was used to determine the recency of infection. Results Recent HIV infections contributed 54% [95% confidence interval (CI) 45; 64%] of infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) and 16% (95% CI 0; 39%) of infections in patients with other transmission risks ( P=0.041). Recently infected MSM were characterized by younger age and higher viral load as compared with MSM who had longstanding infections ( P=0.011 and 0.005, respectively). Symptoms during primary infection and patients' assumptions with regard to time of infection were significantly correlated with test results indicating whether or not the HIV infection was recently acquired ( P<0.001). Conclusions Cross-sectional surveillance of recent HIV infections proved to be relevant to the identification of current risks for acquiring HIV infection. The high proportion of recent HIV infections in MSM and the even higher proportion in MSM younger than 30 years indicate ongoing HIV transmission in this group. The method will be used in future national HIV surveillance in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]