HIV TESTING

I was hoping to get a doctor's opinion on my post.  Most of the people believe I am worrying over nothing, but I wanted to pose the question to a doctor.

The long and short of it is that someone called me and left a message on my voice mail telling me that I tested "positive for hiv" and that I needed to come in for a confirmation test. The only thing is that I never went to hospital where the person called for treatment. Furthermore, about 3.5 earlier I took a saliva drug test and I was concerned that it could have been accidentally tested for hiv.  A lab pro thinks that a saliva sample could theoretically be tested for both.

Your advice is highly appreciated

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/HIV-Testing/show/995735?personal_page_id=496294&post_id=post_4653800

[Edward W Hook, MD]

In preparing to answer your question I have gone back and read your earlier interaction with Dr. Handsfield as well as your recent interactions at the HIV Prevention Community site.  I have several informational comments and then a suggestion.

First, indeed saliva can be tested for HIV and the  performance of such tests is similar to the performance of blood tests- there are rare false positives.  Thus your specimen could have theoretically been tested for HIV.  In addition, many states have now changed their laws to allow what is called "opt out" testing which means that you can be tested for HIV unless you specifically refuse.  The fine print of whatever you signed prior to your saliva testing could have permitted HIV testing (I have major reservations about testing people without their knowing but some health care providers do this nonetheless).  

Second, in reviewing your exchange with Dr. Handsfield earlier in the Spring, I concur with him that you are at virtually no risk for HIV form the activities you mentioned to him.  The chances that you are infected are VERY, VERY low.  

So, what to do?  I also note that you have posted on the anxiety site as well.  The question has been raised and you need to get to the bottom of this.  Was it a prank (and a nasty one at that) or were you tested without your knowledge?  Rather than let this eat at you, I would suggest one of two options.  You can either call the hospital back and try to get to the bottom of this or, alternatively, just go and get tested. If you do, the most likely outcome by far is that you will find that you do not have HIV (you could have a false positive ELISA but your HIV risk, as I've said, is extremely low).  Or you may want to pursue both options outlined.  No matter what, the bottom line is that your risk for HIV is low and you need to put this to rest.

Hope this helps.  EWH

[James300]

i guess i should ad that I never went to this hosptial for any reason? They would have a medical record on me, if the lab sent my results to them? Is this a correct assumption?

[James300]

this was done as a drug test though work, it was few years ago. I don't remember ever be asked to test for hiv.

If I was to call the hospital, who should I ask to speak with? The person left a message. His phone number was blocked. I called back and the hospital said they had no record of this person working there.  

What more can I do? I called HR, they specifically told me that they don't have a record for a JAY Bailey. I even asked if he went by a JOhn, James, or another name.

Could i just request medical records?

[James300]

I might also add that when I called the drug testing service (3rd party admin), they told the sample was tested for drugs and nothing else.

[James300]

Florida law also prohibits releasing a prelim test without confirmed results.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

All of this makes it more likely that you were subjected to a prank.  Additional steps you might take would be to make a request for medical records and to find out if the drug testing that you know was done was done at this hospital.  In addition, as is becoming evident, I continue to think that while you deal with these issues, I would advise you to get this behind you by getting tested.  then you can deal with who might have done such an awful thing to you.  EWH

[James300]

The testing was done at LABONE, not the hospital

[James300]

Florida law also requires informed consent on HIV, although not necessarily written,

[James300]

Sorry,

Doctor but if i was tested legitimately for hiv, wouldn't the test results have gone to MRO in the normal channels, who would have told me. Instead, about 3.5 after the test I get a call from an organization that has nothing directly to do with the test? A tthird party

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

While laboratories report their results to whomever ordered them, that is the only thing you can be mostly sure about.  Some laboratories do not report their test results to health departments.  I am not sure why you expect me to have these answers and am not sure where these questions are going. I am sorry for your dilema but I also really have nothing more to say.  EWH.  

[James300]

Called the hospital, they have no medical record for me. SHe checked twice,

[James300]

She also said that they would never give out information over the phone like this. I think it is fair to say this was a bogus phone call.  I will now get a full physical.

[James300]

Results came back negative that you for your help