What if the rapid HIV screening result is positive?
A reactive screening result is considered a preliminary (unconfirmed) HIV positive and must be confirmed through clinical laboratory testing. In these cases, two HIV Counseling (Positive) Visits are provided – the first to deliver the preliminary result and the second, at a later date, to deliver the results of confirmatory testing. See Section 1 for a comprehensive description of the HIV Counseling (Positive) Visit. In order to ensure seamless entry into care, some facilities provide both HIV Counseling (Positive) visits in the HIV clinic. In this model, the ED staff member providing the rapid test escorts the patient to the HIV clinic and introduces him or her to a member of the HIV clinic team, who arranges for confirmatory testing and schedules the patient’s return for confirmatory testing. Some facilities emphasize continuity in counseling by providing both HIV Counseling (Positive) visits in the ER. In these cases, the ED staff member or counselor delivers the preliminary positiv
