MT-Laws HIV/AIDS Part 3

Under Compulsory HIV Testing

It is necessary to test a person charged with:

⦁ Serious and slight physical injuries

⦁ Rape and simple seduction

Is HIV a ground for annulment of marriage? (Y/N), if yes how many years should the case be filed?

Yes, must file within 5 years

Is HIV Testing a pre-requisite in the donation of blood? (Y/N)

Yes.

All HTS facilities shall adhere to the operational requirements set by what NRL?

San Lazaro Hospital / STD, AIDS, and Central Cooperative Laboratory.

What type of screening is HIV testing?

Screening: Immunoassay

What is the Window Period of each test?

⦁ Antibody test (rapid test/self-test): ?

⦁ Antigen/antibody lab test: ?

⦁ Nucleic acid test: ?

⦁ Rapid antigen/antibody test: ?

⦁ Antibody test (rapid test/self-test): 23-90 days

⦁ Antigen/antibody lab test: 18-45 days

⦁ Nucleic acid test: 10-33 days

⦁ Rapid antigen/antibody test: 18-90 days

Can you enumerate the Confirmatory Tests for HIV/ AIDS?

⦁ Old: Western blot

⦁ New: rapid HIV diagnostic algorithm (rHiVda)

⦁ Old confirmatory test for HIV

⦁ Involves fractionation of HIV proteins by weight via gel electrophoresis

WESTERN BLOT

⦁ HIV proteins are then transferred to nitrocellulose paper and the patient’s serum is added

⦁ If antibodies are present in the serum, they will bind to the antigens (HIV proteins) and produce a colored band

WESTERN BLOT

Under Western Blot, what are the implications that the test is Reactive?

if at least 2 of the major antigens are present (p24, gp41, gp 120/160)

Under Western Blot, what are the implications that the test is Non-reactive?

absence of all bands

The method of finding and counselling the sexual partners of a person diagnosed with HIV

CONTACT TRACING

Refers to a lifelong treatment using a combination of three or more drugs to achieve viral suppression

ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART)

When can you say that the virus is supressed, or is under viral suppression?

Viral suppression: undetectable viral load (≤ 50 RNA copies per ml)

Does ART require adherence counseling to prevent drug resistance and treatment failure? (Y/N)

Yes.

What are the preffered first line medicines under ART?

Preferred first line: tenofovir, lamivudine, and efavirenz

Confidentiality and privacy of any individual is guaranteed, for people who are/ were:

⦁ Tested for HIV

⦁ Exposed to HIV

⦁ Has HIV infection and AIDS-related illnesses

⦁ Treated for HIV-related illnesses

General Rule for DISCLOSURE of HIV-RELATED TEST RESULTS

General rule: Only to the individual who submitted to the test

If the patient is 15 years old, orphan, or mentally incapacitated, the results are disclosed to?

parents, legal guardian, duly assigned health or social worker

If the patient is below 15 years old but has given the consent, the results are disclosed to?

disclose the result to the child