How are patients informed about their HIV test results?

AIDS and HIV are hot topics in public health nowadays, but little information is available about the way in which HIV test results are communicated to patients.

Our aim was to find out about the way in which patients are informed about their HIV test results and the delay they experience.

Since 1996, a representative network of sentinel GPs has recorded data about requests for HIV tests, risk factors and the way in which and the delay with which patients are informed about their HIV test results.

Between 1996 and 1999, 4807 requests for an HIV test were recorded. Test results were given mostly by phone (41.9%). Patients at risk were informed more often during a planned follow-up. Anxious patients were informed more often about the results by phone, and in 61.2% test results were communicated during the first week following the test. Results were given earlier if patients were anxious or had themselves asked for the test. Although non-consensual HIV testing is against the European guidelines on informed consent, 102 tests (2.2%) were performed without informed consent.

Even though notification by phone decreases the delay, physicians should be encouraged to make follow-up appointments to inform the patient about the test results. A face-to-face conversation is the only way in which physicians can offer valuable post-test counselling. Physicians should be informed about the unlawfulness of non-consensual HIV testing.