Due to the strict confidentiality of HIV testing, HIV results are released only to the ordering physician or authorized healthcare provider. Any requests for HIV test results will be handled as follows:

1. NO REQUEST FOR AN HIV TEST RESULT WILL BE GIVEN OVER THE PHONE. Incoming telephone requests should be directed to the Technical In-Charge person. With the exception of POSITIVE expedited HIV-1 Ab results, NO HIV RESULT WILL BE REPORTED BY PHONE. Phone reports of HIV testing will be reported by authorized personnel limited to the technical staff performing the HIV testing and these phone reports will be limited to reports of POSITIVE results on expedited HIV testing only.

2. Requests for HIV results by fax will be provided ONLY to the authorized healthcare provider and ONLY to the providers’ confirmed office fax number. If the office fax number is not documented in the LIS under physician inquiry, call the authorized physician office and confirm the fax number before faxing a report.

3. Any requests for HIV related medical information from anyone other than the authorized healthcare provider should be referred to the Hospital Medical Records Department if an inpatient or to Client Services at 461-3008, if it is an outreach patient.

New York State Public Health Law prohibits disclosure of confidential HIV related information, including HIV test results. Anyone who receives or has access to HIV related information in the course of providing health or social services to a patient must comply with all confidentiality requirements. All employees are instructed to safeguard any medical information they may have access to in the course of performing their job. BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY MAY BE GROUNDS FOR IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FROM EMPLOYMENT AND SUBJECT TO POTENTIAL LITIGATION.