Introduction: HIV variants identified early in the course of infection serve as indicators of the strains circulating in France and contributing to the epidemic. The objective of the study was to describe the characteristics of patients recently infected with HIV-1 in France by analyzing, in combination, epidemiological data from mandatory reporting (DO) and virological data from the National HIV Reference Center (CNR VIH). Methods: The mandatory reporting system for HIV is combined with virological surveillance based on serum samples collected on filter paper. A test to identify very recent infections (ITR = 31 days) was performed on all samples received at the CNR VIH between January 2012 and December 2014. For all ITRs, amplification and sequencing of a viral genome fragment (env) were performed, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Epidemiological data for subjects identified as ITRs were collected from the DO. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with membership in a transmission network. Results: Of the 17,010 samples collected, 1,988 (12%) ITRs were identified, for which 714 sequences were obtained (36%). The final sample included 549 cases. There were 493 men (90%), of whom 315 were infected through sexual contact with men (MSM). Forty-three transmission networks (107 cases, including 70 MSM), ranging from 2 to 11 cases each, were identified, primarily located in Île-de-France and southeastern France. Being MSM was the only factor associated with inclusion in a transmission network (OR=4.2; 95% CI: [1.6–11.0]; p=0.004). Conclusion: The combined analysis of sociodemographic and epidemiological data from the DO and virological data from the CNR HIV provides objective information describing patients with very recent HIV infection in real time, particularly through the identification of transmission networks.