How We Do That Thing, That We Do So Well!

Testing is the only way to truly know your status. I get a lot of people who are scared of the testing, or simply do not understand our confidentiality practices. Well, let me get into this by offering some information about HIV testing. There are two simple ways to test for HIV at our offices. You can test with an OraQuick ADVANCED® Rapid HIV Antibody test, or through Venipuncture (Blood Draw). I am going to walk you through the steps of how HIV testing is done.

“All HIV test require you to sign a consent form.”
If you come to one of our site where we are offering HIV testing then you MUST sign a consent form. If you choose to test anonymously then you will be given a code number and you do not have to sign your name. The consent form is a way to make sure that you understand that we are testing you for HIV, that you are at least 13 years old, that you know what the Window Period is, and that you understand what will happen if the test comes back reactive.

“Window Period”
For those of you who do not know, HIV testing at our sites is really HIV Antibody Testing. This means that we are actually trying to detect your body’s immune response to HIV. We do not test for the Virus itself. There are other tests for that called Viral Loads, which are very expensive. The window period according to the Indiana State Department of Health is 1-3 months. This does not mean that HIV is dormant in the body; this is just how long it takes for the body to build up enough Antibodies for us to test for. So for example: if you test at say our September Status Update (Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Truman’s from 12-4pm). We are actually testing for any risk activity from before June 2009.

“Anonymous Testing”
Anonymous means that we only collect some demographic information, like city, state, birth date, race, age, gender identity, and zip code. We do not collect name, address or telephone number. Your chart is then assigned a chart number and an “Opscan” number. That is what we use to identify you. You can test anonymously for HIV with both the rapid and venipucture tests.

“Confidential Testing”
Confidential testing is when we collect name, address, phone #, along with the rest of the information given during anonymous testing. This information is protected by law. It is actually some of the most protected health information in the United States. All health information is protected by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA states that at no time can healthcare employees release information about a patient without prior written consent or court order. Doing so will put us at risk for $250,000 in fines and up to ten years in jail. First I want to say that we will NEVER release information about HIV tests without written consent or court order. None of us make $250,000, and I for one am way to pretty to go to jail!

The only authorization we have to release this information without your consent is if we are Court Ordered to do so; in which case a subpoena has to be issued for each piece of information or if it is needed to save your life or the life of someone else. For more information on HIPAA: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/

“Anonymous v. Confidential Testing”
No testing counselor can tell you how to test. That is your decision! Testing confidentially means that I can give you a copy of your results, you cannot get a copy if your test anonymously. It may also be easier to access care coordination services in Indiana if you test confidentially. The State of Indiana requires that we have two “positive” results on file to access care coordination services. That means if you test reactive or positive on any test we do a confirmatory test.

“Testing: Venipucture”
Testing through Venipucture or a blood draw is simple. After all of the paperwork is done, we then draw blood. That blood is then sent to the Indiana State Department of Health’s Laboratories in Indianapolis for testing. If you don’t like needles this isn’t for you! However, if you want to test for syphilis or hepatitis then you have to have a blood draw. The results of this test are then sent back after about two weeks.

“Testing: OraQuick ADVANDCED®” (http://www.orasure.com/index.asp)
This is only a screening test. This test will provide you with your results in 20 minutes in the same visit. That way you walk out knowing your status. The OraQuick test does not provide a “positive” or “negative” result, rather “reactive” and “non-reactive”. It is not use to confirm anyone’s HIV status.
You can test through oral mucosal cells (oral swab) or a finger stick (Blood). This test, according to the OraSure Technologies web page is, “Greater than 99% agreement with confirmatory Western blot” (OraSure Technologies , 2009) Either way you test is accurate and available for free.

“Paperwork”
Yes, there is a lot of paperwork that has to be done. Most of the information we are gathering on the forms is to help us understand what your risk factors are. This helps us to tailor our discussion to you and not just give you general information.
There are some pretty personal questions on there. You have the right to refuse to answer any of those questions. Don’t be shy with us, we have heard it all. We are not here to judge you in anyway. Honesty is always the best policy. Just remember that this information is between you and the person in the room.

Well that is testing in its basic form. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask your testing counselor any questions. If you don’t understand what is going on then you need to ask! We will not be offended if you ask what we are doing. So I hope this has helped you understand the basics about HIV Antibody Testing.

Stay Healthy and Be FIERCE,
Patrick


OraSure Technologies . (2009). OraSure Technologies - OraQuick ADVANCE ® Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test. Retrieved September 19, 2009, from OraSure Technologies : http://www.orasure.com/products-infectious/products-infectious-oraquick.asp