Is anonymous HIV testing really anonymous?
In NY state, anonymous testing means strictly anonymous. Your name is not part of the equation; you are assigned a number. The downside is that you will not get a print-out of your results (they will show you on a computer screen). If you are positive, your statistics are reported to the state (age/race/sex and the like), but your name is still never used/spoken/written down. There is also the option to do confidential results, which confidentially associates your name with the results and will give you a print-out (and I *think* makes you eligible for long term counseling/services/etc). This is as confidential as any health record; only Dept. of Health folks can see it. If this is more than a hypothetical, and if you are going in NYC, I highly recommend going to one of the rapid testing locations (I went to the one in Chelsea: 303 Ninth Avenue @28th Street), and getting there 15 minutes before it opens in the morning. It is so fast (you have the results in an hour) and easy and FREE a
Related Questions
- Is testing of the source patient under the Family Health Care Decisions Act (FHCDA) anonymous, as it is in the HIV Testing Law? If not, which law takes precedence?
- It was my understanding that only state and local health departments could provide anonymous HIV testing. Has that changed?
- Can people still get HIV testing at anonymous sites?
