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 as stated in Annex V and HIV testing standard criteria for laboratories set by?

National Reference Laboratory:

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

HIV testing shall be routinely offered, prioritized for and promoted to the following: (Just give 1)

a. Key populations including adolescents
b. High risk individuals who have not been tested recently
c. Partners, infants and children of PLHIV
d. Patients showing signs and symptoms consistent with AIDS defining illness
e. Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections
f. Patients with Hepatitis B and C
g. Patients with under nutrition not responsive to interventions
h. All confirmed tuberculosis patients
i. All pregnant women regardless of risk

What type of screening is HIV testing?

Screening: Immunoassay

Can you enumerate the Tests under Window period for HIV/ AIDS?

⦁ 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

What are the HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR HIV/AIDS?

⦁ Free and accessible antiretroviral therapy (ART) and medication for opportunistic infections to all PLHIV who are enrolled in the program

⦁ Indigent persons living with HIV: financial support for necessary services

⦁ Economic empowerment and support

⦁ PLHIV: counseling, social protection, welfare assistance

⦁ Overseas workers living with HIV: stigma-free comprehensive reintegration, care, and support program

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)

Where is ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART) available?

Available in DOH-designated HIV treatment facilities

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

What are the HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES provided for Affected families, intimate partners, significant others, and children of PLHIV?

⦁ Education programs and educational assistance for children infected with HIV, and children orphaned by HIV and AIDS

What are the HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES provided for Prisons and other closed-setting institutions?

⦁ Comprehensive prevention and control program

⦁ PLHIV in these settings: provided with treatment

What are the HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES provided for Health insurance: PhilHealth benefit package?

⦁ No PLHIV shall be denied of private health or life insurance on the basis of the person’s status

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

Disclosure, without consent, is unlawful? (Y/N)

Yesss.

What are the EXCEPTIONS ON CONFIDENTIALITY?

⦁ When complying with reportorial requirements of the national active and passive surveillance system of the DOH (the patient’s identity remains confidential)

⦁ When informing other health workers directly involved in the treatment and care of a PLHIV (shared medical confidentiality)

⦁ When responding to a subpoena over a legal proceeding where the main issue is the HIV status of an individual

⦁ Executive session

⦁ Personally opened by the judge

General Rule for DISCLOSURE of HIV-RELATED TEST RESULTS

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

Under DISCLOSURE of HIV-RELATED TEST RESULTS, if below 15 years old, orphan, or mentally incapacitated, the results are disclosed to?

parents, legal guardian, duly assigned health or social worker

Under DISCLOSURE of HIV-RELATED TEST RESULTS, Below 15 years old but has given the consent, the results are disclosed to?

disclose the result to the child

Under DISCLOSURE of HIV-RELATED TEST RESULTS, If the results are positive, what is strongly encouraged?

Strongly encouraged to disclose the condition to the spouse, sexual partners, and/or any person prior to engaging in penetrative sex or any potential exposure to HIV