Notification time of HIV positive test results in Vietnam

Notification time of HIV positive test results in Vietnam (Internet image)

On February 28, 2023, the Minister of Health of Vietnam issued Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT stipulating the form and process for notifying HIV-positive test results and accessing information about people living with HIV.

1. Notification time of HIV positive test results in Vietnam

Thus, the time for notifying HIV positive test results according to Article 3 of Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT is as follows:

Report on a positive HIV test result must be done within 72 working hours after the person responsible for notifying the test results where the patient is sampled receives the HIV positive test result sheet, except for the following cases:

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

- If the person being tested for HIV has not been able to receive information about his or her HIV-positive status due to lack of health, the person responsible for notifying the HIV positive test result chooses an appropriate time to notify the person being tested.

2. Preparation, transfer, delivery, and receipt of HIV positive test result sheets in Vietnam

The preparation, transfer, delivery, and receipt of HIV positive test results sheets according to Article 2 of Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT are as follows:

- The HIV testing facility collects information about the person who has been tested and confirmed HIV positive according to the content specified in the Appendix Sample form of HIV positive test result issued together with Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT;

Comparing with the documents specified in Clause 2, Article 29 of the Law provides for HIV/AIDS prevention and control (amended in Clause 9 Article 1 of the Law on amendments to the Law on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS);

And making the HIV positive test result sheet (hereinafter referred to as the slip) for establishments eligible to carry out HIV-positive confirmation tests or sending them to qualified establishments to conduct HIV-positive tests as a basis for making votes.

- Making a report of HIV positive test result:

+ The HIV positive test result sheet is made according to the provisions in the Appendix to the sample form of the HIV positive test result sheet issued together with Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT;

+ The HIV positive test result sheet is made in at least 03 copies: 01 copy is kept at the establishment designated for HIV-positive testing, 01 copy is kept at the HIV-positive testing establishment, and 01 copy is returned to the person being tested for HIV.

- Transfer, delivery, and receipt of an HIV positive test result sheet:

+ Transferring, delivering, and receiving HIV positive test results slips between departments in a medical facility:

The head of the testing facility is responsible for developing the process of sending, handing, and receiving the vouchers in each medical facility to ensure the confidentiality of test results, information, and the HIV infection status of the person being tested for HIV;

+ Transferring, delivering, and receiving the HIV positive test result card from the HIV-affirming testing facility to the responsible person specified in Clause 2, Article 30 of the Law provides for HIV/AIDS prevention and control:

The slip must be put in a sealed envelope, clearly stating the name of the agency, organization, individual, address, phone number (if any), and seal of the testing facility where the ballot is sent;

+ Sending the HIV positive test result slip through the hospital information management system or the HIV/AIDS information management system.

More details can be found in Vietnam's Circular 04/2023/TT-BYT effective from May 1, 2023, replacing Circular 02/2020/TT-BYT.

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