HIV/AIDS Surveillance
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HIV/AIDS Surveillance |
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Local Health Departments/Districts
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HIV/AIDS
Surveillance staff work in the Assessment Unit with local health
jurisdictions, health care providers and laboratories to collect
HIV/AIDS case report information. Identifying new cases of HIV
infection allows for the reduction of the spread of the virus; it also
assures that newly infected persons receive care as early as possible,
and that partners who have been exposed to HIV receive partner
counseling and referral services.
State and federal funding for disease control and care of infected persons is often based on case numbers. This is especially true for HIV/AIDS. Thus, complete reporting means more money for our state to slow the spread of the virus and to pay for needed HIV/AIDS care services. Reporting Requirements Health care providers are required by law to report HIV or AIDS cases by name to the local health department of the area in which he or she practices. Within ninety days of collecting complete information on each case report, local health officials convert the name of HIV cases to a unique code and send the information to the Department of Health (DOH). When laboratories identify infection through HIV viral loads, CD4<200 cells or 14% and HIV antibody tests, these results are reported to the state. The unreported HIV tests and CD4 tests are referred to local health departments for follow up, and lab tests with names are destroyed. Protection of HIV & AIDS Case Report Information State laws and health department security and confidentiality rules protect the identity of persons reported with HIV or AIDS. Anyone guilty of violating these confidentiality laws may be found guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be subject to action for reckless or intentional disclosure up to a fine of $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater (RCW 70.24.080, RCW 9A.20.021, RCW 70.24.084). Case reports are kept in locked rooms with access limited to authorized personnel who are trained in maintaining confidentiality and security of these records. |
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