An ongoing dialogue on HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases,
August 3rd, 2010
HIV Testing: NY Makes Progress; Massachusetts … Not So Much
From the office of New York Governor David Paterson: The Governor signed into law S.8227/A.11487, which will allow patients to agree to HIV testing as part of a general signed consent to medical care that remains in effect until it is revoked or expires. The bill will also, among other things: allow oral consent to an HIV […]
June 23rd, 2010
Combined HIV Antibody/Antigen Test Approved
From the FDA: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first assay to detect both antigen and antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)… The highly sensitive assay is intended to be used as an aid in the diagnosis of HIV-1/HIV-2 infection, including acute or primary HIV-1 infection. Since it actually detects the HIV-1 […]
March 17th, 2010
This One Drives Me Crazy
In the debate over efforts to expand HIV testing by making it less “exceptional” and more like other important tests done in medical care — something I heartily endorse (no kidding) — comes one particular protest that makes absolutely no sense to me. It goes something like this: We cannot expand HIV testing before guaranteeing that all newly-diagnosed […]
August 20th, 2009
The V.A. Opts Out
Read all about it here: As of August 17, 2009, written (signature) consent is no longer required for HIV testing in the VHA. Instead, patients will provide verbal informed consent prior to HIV testing. Furthermore, scripted pre-test and post-test counseling are no longer mandated. Since the VA is the largest HIV provider in the nation — […]
June 13th, 2009
Occupational Exposures and HIV Testing
A couple of years ago, an ID-colleague of mine told me about a tough case: While working in the ICU, an anesthesiologist sustained a pretty severe needle stick. Approached for HIV testing, the source of the exposure felt threatened by the providers in the ICU, and refused to sign the consent. The patient then deteriorated and […]
May 24th, 2009
Another State Gets Ready to Make HIV Testing Easier
Don’t look now, Massachusetts, but Connecticut could be next: AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE HIV TESTING CONSENT LAW. This bill revises the law on consent for HIV-related testing. Specifically, the bill: 1. eliminates the requirement for separate, written or oral consent for HIV testing and instead allows general consent for the performance of medical procedures […]
January 4th, 2009
Top Stories in HIV Medicine
Happy New Year! In the spirit of list-making that seems to permeate the world right about this time, we’ve just published our own list over at AIDS Clinical Care. Check it out — our editorial board this year did a superb job of summarizing the field. I have a strong feeling that next year’s version will have […]
Paul E. Sax, MD
Contributing Editor
NEJM Journal Watch
Infectious Diseases
Biography | Disclosures | Summaries
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