Reporting and Testing for HIV

Laws and requirements for reporting HIV on the state level

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks a person’s immune system. It makes it very difficult for the person to fight off infections or diseases. 

The following slides will talk more about laws and requirements for reporting HIV on the state level as well as some terms and concepts from Module 8.

Q1 In California, HIV is a reportable disease. We report to the Department of Public Health within one working day of the positive test. California Code of Regulations states that the patient may remain anonymous, if they choose. A Confidential test is also available.

The health department sends the result to the CDC.

The results in the medical record are protected by HIPAA.

Q2 What is the sensitivity and specificity of the test you are using and how do those concepts influence what you will tell your patient?  Does the sensitivity and specificity of the test influence your decision to treat (or not)?"

High sensitivity= will detect true positives (patient would have the disease)

High specificity (True negative)= will detect very few false positives (disease would be present or not present). With a high sensitivity and high specificity, the likelihood of detecting a true positive result, and low chance of a false positive result, as a provider, I would choose to treat the patient (CDC, 2018).

Q3 Explain reliability and validity.  What is the difference between reliability and validity and can you give me a couple of examples of what might affect each one?"

Reliability: results of the test are consistent

Test is able to produce same or similar test results each time 

Validity: results of the test are accurate

Results of test are measuring what should be measured 

A test can consistently (reliability) give you the same result and that result could possibly be accurate or inaccurate (Validity). A test

can not be validated if the test is not reliability.

Q4 Predictive value- probability that test result is correct

Positive predictive value= probability of person with positive result having disease

Negative predictive value= probability of person with negative result NOT having disease

When prevalence decreases PPV decreases, NPV increases

Incidence= 134/2.095 million, Prevalence= 3,422/2.095 million (New Mexico Department of Health, 2017)

HIV has low prevalence and incidence, therefore lower PPV, higher NPV

Clinical implications

Pt with negative test result can relax

Pt with positive test result might recheck