In Vietnam: What are procedures for transferring people tested for HIV to another health facility after notifying HIV-positive test results?

In Vietnam: What are procedures for transferring people tested for HIV to another health facility after notifying HIV-positive test results?

Pursuant to Article 6 of the Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT (effective from 01/05/2023) stipulating procedures for notifying HIV-positive test results to people tested for HIV who are patients being treated at health facilities as follows:

Procedures for notifying HIV-positive test results to people tested for HIV who are patients being treated at health facilities

1. After having the results, the laboratory will transfer 02 Reports to the department or ward where the patient is being treated.

2. The person in charge of the department or ward shall:

a) Notify the patient's HIV infection status to medical staff directly involved in care and treatment or to medical staff who directly examine or perform medical professional techniques in other departments and wards;

b) Keep 01 Report in the medical record, and then notify and return 01 Report to the person tested for HIV as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 5 of this Circular.

3. In case the patient has to be referred to another department or ward, the following procedures shall be followed:

a) The person in charge in the department or ward from which the patient is referred must transfer the Report enclosed with the medical record to the person in charge in the department or ward to which the patient is referred;

b) The person in charge in the department or ward to which the patient is referred shall notify the patient's HIV status to the head of the department, ward, doctors and nurses directly taking care of and treating the patient.

4. In case the patient has to be referred to another health facility, the following procedures shall be followed:

a) The health facility from which the patient is referred must transfer the Report enclosed with the documents on the referral of the health facility as prescribed to the health facility to which the patient is referred;

b) The person in charge of the health facility to which the patient is referred shall notify the patient's HIV infection status as prescribed at Point a, Clause 2 of this Article.

5. If the person tested for HIV is a person under 18 years of age, a person who is legally incapacitated, a person with difficulties in awareness and behavior control, and a person with limited legal capacity, the notification and return of Report shall be made as specified in Clause 5, Article 5 of this Circular.

As regulations above, in case the patient has to be referred to another health facility, the following procedures shall be followed:

+) The health facility from which the patient is referred must transfer the Report enclosed with the documents on the referral of the health facility as prescribed to the health facility to which the patient is referred;

+) The person in charge of the health facility to which the patient is referred shall notify the patient's HIV infection status.

What are methods of notification of HIV positive test results in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 4 of the Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT (effective from 01/05/2023) stipulating methods of notification of HIV positive test results in Vietnam as follows:

Methods of notification of HIV positive test results

1. Directly notify and return the Report to the entities specified at Points a and b, Clause 2, Article 30 of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.

2. Directly notify or return the Report to the entities specified at Points c, d and dd, Clause 2, Article 30 of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.

3. Deliver the Report to the entities specified at Points e and g, Clause 2, Article 30 of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.

4. Other appropriate methods of notification at the request of people tested for HIV.

As regulations above, notification of HIV positive test results shall be carried out directly or by returning the Report.

What is the time for notification of HIV positive test results in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 3 of the Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT (effective from 01/05/2023) stipulating the time for notification of HIV positive test results in Vietnam as follows:

Time for notification of HIV positive test results

The notification of positive HIV test results must be made within 72 working hours after the person in charge of notifying the test results in the facility where the patient has his/her sample taken receives the Report, except for the following cases:

1. The person tested for HIV does not come to receive the test results.

2. If the person tested for HIV cannot receive information about their HIV-positive status because he/she has not been in sufficient health, the person in charge of notifying HIV-positive test results should choose an appropriate time to notify the person tested for HIV.

As regulations above, the notification of positive HIV test results must be made within 72 working hours after the person in charge of notifying the test results in the facility where the patient has his/her sample taken receives the Report, except for the above cases.

Best regards!