What type of testing is available?
Both confidential and anonymous testing is available. Confidential testing is the most commonly available type of testing. When confidential testing is done, HIV counseling and testing information, including the test result, is recorded in the patients medical record. This information is protected from unauthorized disclosure by both state and federal law. Anonymous testing involves no use of the persons name on either the test request or results. Consent for the test is given through the use of a code number rather than a signature. Results are also returned through the use of the code number. Anonymous test results that are positive for HIV may not be used as proof of infection when a referral is made for medical services. In the event that a person who is tested anonymously has a positive result, they may have the option of changing their result to a confidential one. This result will then become part of their medical record so that they can be referred for services related to their
TOP There are several methods of testing available. The most popular is urine testing. Testing urine utilizing our laboratory gives results in 24-48 hour results or with an on-site test kit with results in minutes. Oral fluids can also be used which can be tested on-site with results in 15 minutes. Hair testing has become very popular due to its 90 day detection window of past use. Sweat testing is popular as a deterrent to use. A patch is worn for up to two weeks and will detect drugs of abuse used during the time the patch is worn.
The FDA has cleared four commercially-available test kits, from different manufacturers, for detection of WNV IgM antibodies. These four kits are used in many commercial laboratories in the United States. According to the package inserts, each of these kits is indicated for use on serum to aid in the presumptive laboratory diagnosis of WNV infection in patients with clinical symptoms of meningitis or encephalitis. The package inserts also state that all positive results obtained with any of the commercially-available WNV test kits should be confirmed through additional testing at a state health department laboratory or CDC. Public health practitioners, healthcare providers and clinical laboratories are reminded to consider these factors when ordering WNV tests and interpreting the results. In addition to commercially-available testing, WNV testing can be performed in most state health departments. Further testing is available at the Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory in the Arboviral
In the absence of any of the above problems being found, after blood testing requested usually by your endocrinologist, he or she may suggest the use of other techniques to evaluate what the nodule is made of. One technique involves doing a thyroid scan. This involves taking a capsule by mouth of a very small dose of radioactive iodine which is absorbed and travels to the thyroid and makes it able to have a picture taken of it. What this picture looks like sometimes gives us an idea of what the nodule is made of. It is a very safe test but should generally not be administered to women who are pregnant or who are considering becoming pregnant in the very near future. There is no danger of any damage from the radioactive iodine to the person himself or herself. There is only a theoretical potential of problems to an unborn child and therefore we try not to scan patients who are pregnant or who will be pregnant soon. Another examination that might be performed is an ultrasound of the thyr
