Mandatory non-anonymous testing of newborns for HIV: should it ever be allowed?
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Programs for voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV play an increasingly important role in comprehensive prevention and care strategies. New technological advancements and behavioral interventions can improve the effectiveness of VCT as a tool for preventing new HIV infections and helping HIV-positive individuals access appropriate care. With growing consensus that early access to HIV therapy increases its effectiveness, and that individuals diagnosed with HIV reduce risk behavior, VCT has become integral to the continuum of HIV primary care. However, federal funding of VCT has declined, with concomitant decreases in numbers of people being tested. An estimated 200,000 people in the United States remain unaware that they are HIV positive, and many at-risk individuals do not seek out standard HIV counseling and testing services. To increase the acceptability and effectiveness of VCT, the authors recommend that VCT programs employ outreach programs offering anonymous testing to reach those at heightened risk of HIV infection, and to make rapid use of new technologies and counseling strategies to improve the reach and efficacy. Given the important role that VCT can play in both prevention and early treatment, the authors recommend significant increases in federal support.
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Voluntary anonymous HIV testing is about to become the norm in Hungary. Mandatory HIV testing, however, is widespread in Russia, contrary to the federal law on HIV prevention.
The Botswana Industrial Court recently decided two cases regarding mandatory HIV testing in the workplace. One case addressed constitutional rights of HIV-infected people, expanding the reach of the Bill of Rights to the private sphere and potentially offering wide protection to people living with HIV/AIDS. Both cases highlight the glaring need for HIV-related legislation in Botswana.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests are essential for detecting asymptomatic infection and are helpful in confirming the diagnoses of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Nonetheless, many aspects of their use remain controversial, partly because of concerns about test accuracy. This article reviews the scientific basis for the evaluation, performance, and use of the most commonly employed HIV assays. Current test performance could be improved by better standardization of test procedures and institution of mandatory proficiency testing and licensure of clinical laboratories that perform HIV testing. Test utility could be enhanced by sequencing tests more appropriately and by interpreting test results in conjunction with the clinical purpose for which the test is being used and the characteristics of the population under study. Finally, HIV tests should be evaluated in a manner that minimizes spectrum and referral bias and inadequate reference standard confirmation, problems that have affected the evaluation of current tests.
Anesthetics and other drugs used during the perioperative period may have teratogenic or abortive effects. The pregnancy status of surgical patients is often unknown. This investigation examined retrospectively the results of 2 yr of mandatory pregnancy testing in 412 adolescent surgical patients. The overall incidence of positive tests was 1.2%. Five of 207 patients aged 15 yr and older tested positive, for an incidence of 2.4% in that group. None of the 205 patients under the age of 15 yr had a positive pregnancy test. We conclude that mandatory pregnancy testing is advisable in adolescent surgical patients aged 15 yr and older.
Since 1994, the availability of increasingly effective antiretroviral drugs for both the prevention of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and maternal treatment has resulted in a greater emphasis on prenatal HIV testing and substantial increases in prenatal testing rates. In 2000, preliminary data indicated that 766 (93%) of 824 HIV-infected women in 25 states knew their HIV status before delivery (CDC, unpublished data, 2002). However, an estimated 280-370 perinatal HIV transmissions continue to occur in the United States each year. The primary strategy to prevent perinatal HIV transmission is to maximize prenatal HIV testing of pregnant women. States and Canadian provinces have implemented three different prenatal HIV-testing approaches. To assess their effectiveness, CDC reviewed prenatal HIV-antibody testing rates associated with these approaches. Medical record data suggest that the "opt-in" voluntary testing approach is associated with lower testing rates than either the "opt-out" voluntary testing approach or the mandatory newborn HIV testing approach.
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The testing of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remains a political factor. Questions are being raised as to an individual's right to privacy and the public's concern for safety. Despite the controversy, the law protects contagious disease sufferers from employment discrimination. Along with AIDS testing, drug testing remains a controversial issue. Mandatory drug testing remains in both the public and private sectors. Legislative activity in California continues to the present.
The Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program has successfully operated mandatory proficiency testing for 13 years in Ontario, Canada, using committees of volunteer peers. This is an alternative to gubernatorial proficiency testing. Using white blood cell (WBC) count determinations as a focus, we present our results. Ninety-six percent of participants attained WBC count results within +/- 10% of an all-methods mean and 77% attained results within +/- 5%. Ninety-six percent displayed satisfactory precision. Details of the program, ie, testing material, computer analysis, reference results, and scope of committee action, are discussed. In 1975, clinical expectations for WBC count determinations greatly exceeded most laboratories' capabilities. By 1987, participants were able to produce reliable, clinically useful WBC count results. The paramount reason for this improvement is the transition from manual to automated counting methods resulting from the stimulus of proficiency testing and the concomitant education.
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A new immigration law has been passed and will come into force in the near future. Community organizations have been critical of the proposed Regulations that will accompany the new law. Meanwhile, the federal government has instituted mandatory HIV testing of potential immigrants. Concerns have been voiced about how this testing will be carried out.
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OBJECTIVES: To assess adherence to a 1996 health policy change, which discontinued mandatory tuberculin skin testing (TST) of new entrants to NYC primary schools and continued mandatory testing of new entrants to secondary schools. METHODS: The proportion tested before (1991-1995) and after (1996-1998) the change in health policy was determined. Factors associated with TST positivity and the cost of continued testing were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 76.6% of 551 636 new entrants to primary schools were tested in 1991-1995; slightly fewer, 71.1% of 339 958, were tested in 1996- 1998. Among new entrants to secondary schools, 31.0% of 106 463 were tested in 1991-1995 and 51.4% of 53 762 were tested in 1996-1998. The proportion who were TST-positive continued to decrease after 1996 to 1.2% among primary and 9.7% among secondary schoolchildren in 1998. Older age and birth outside the United States were associated with TST positivity. The estimated minimum cost of continued testing in primary schools was $123 152 per tuberculosis case prevented. CONCLUSION: An approach aimed at reducing testing of children at low risk for latent tuberculosis infection did not decrease testing of younger children. More important, older children who were more likely to be born in countries of high tuberculosis incidence were not tested. Additional efforts are needed to increase awareness among medical and school personnel to decrease testing among children who do not have risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection and to increase tuberculin testing of children who are entering school for the first time at the secondary level and do have risk factors for tuberculosis infection.
Companion articles explore random drug testing programs in schools. The first article addresses random drug testing of students from a legal perspective. It describes legal issues and current case law regarding drug testing programs in schools and commonly asked questions regarding these programs. The second article addresses random drug testing of students from a practice perspective. It explores arguments for and against random drug testing programs and the role of the school nurse in policy and procedure development.