HIV Testing and Counseling

Pre and post counseling must include Education

Ethical and Legal Issues:
Confidentiality vs anonymity
Disclosure - who should patient tell
Informing partners - the physician’s responsibility
Discrimination

Attitudes and Behaviors
for Care Providers

• Compassion
• Confidentiality
• Contain one's own prejudices
• Cherish the "Golden Rule"
• Call HIV health provider for questions
• Comply with rules for blood and waste products exposure

On whom should you order an HIV test?

• A person in a risk group
• A patient with a sexually transmitted disease
• A patient with pulmonary TB or recurrent pneumonia
• A patient with a Pap smear with severe cervical dysplasia, CA in situ, or squamous cell carcinoma
• A patient with oral or recurrent, severe vaginal Candida infection
• A patient with persistent or recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease
  

HIV Test

• Tests for antibody to HIV
• May take weeks to months to be positive following exposure
• After 2 positive ELISA tests, confirmatory Western Blot is done - takes 3 weeks