Any proposed surveillance system must be assessed according to what it reasonably can expect to accomplish in the promotion of behaviors we wish to encourage in HIV testing, treatment, and prevention. There is no reason to believe that the name reporting of persons with positive HIV test results will provide an accurate picture of the epidemic. Most public health experts believe that a significant number of people who are HIV positive avoid testing and have no idea of their status. And there is reason to believe that significant numbers of those considering testing, particularly those who are members of racial and sexual-preference minorities, will be deterred if they are required to provide their name.