What does this mean?

[SunsetPic]

OK, please be patient, lots to unpack here, but first I want to say thank you for this group.  I’ve been up all night reading up and am thankful for the information and support here.

OK, here goes: I went to a walk in clinic a couple of months ago for a routine sti screening.  I checked in my online account with the health care service over the next couple of days and saw a bunch of stuff came back normal and didn’t think anything else about it. 

I logged in now, a couple of months later, for something unrelated and for the first time noticed that in another part of my account I hadn’t seen before - and this note had been there for a long time I guess -- "You have an upcoming HIV 1 ANTIBODY EIA from your visit”.  So then I went back and looked at my appointment from the clinic and the notes left by the provider at that appointment.  There is no HIV test result listed even thought it is on the list of tests given, specifically it says the test given was "HIV P24 Ag and HIV 1/2 Ab".  Every other test has a result in a different section that is “negative” or “non reactive.”  The notes also say this:  "In-house Test Results: No results found for this visit from the past 24 hours”.

And later in the notes in the online account, it said "Will call with result and further plan of care pending lab results.” But if I got a phone call, I didn’t know it.  I guess they could have called while the phone was off and my voicemail was full, it does fill up pretty often, but I would have guessed they would have tried back until they got me, but who knows?

The follow up appointment says it is for within one year of the initial visit.

So, I called the hospital system that is responsible for the clinic.  I talked to someone at the main line and they sent a message to provider at the clinic (I had already called clinic directly and left a message - no word back on that either) but I have heard nothing back.  When I explained to the woman on the phone all of this, I said, “well can you see my results?” And she said yes.  “And I said, can you see the follow up appointment” and she said “yes. This is odd, this is really odd. I don’t understand.” And I said, well can you tell me what it says?”  And she said she wasn’t a clinician and couldn’t explain it.  And I asked if she could tell me any results or just not that one and she said not any because she is not a clinician.  She was really nice but seemed bewildered by whatever she saw in my account or perhaps by how it is being handled. 

I’m trying to call back again soon if I still haven’t heard anything.  Obviously will be retesting regardless, but I’m pretty concerned.  Advice, thoughts, insights - all appreciated.

[Jim Allen]

Hiya.

So you had an HIV antibody test and the result isn't listed on the portal. Call back the clinic again or better yet go see them, no need to panic.

If the result is truly lost and plenty of reasons why that can happen they can retest you. No big deal.

The follow up appointment says it is for within one year of the initial visit.

Excellent. You should at least be getting an HIV screening yearly. Don't forget to also test for STIs when you do get your yearly HIV screening.

She was really nice but seemed bewildered by whatever she saw in my account or perhaps by how it is being handled.

She's a system admin or some non-medical staff member, stop caring what bewildered her or what she thought was strange. I used to manage two teams within the national healthcare system, and half of them were bewildered when I explained the concept of turning up on time, let alone expecting them to read and understand lab results, doctors' notes on files or the system they were supposed to support.

Stop asking the office, system admins or reception staff questions and expecting useful answers, talk to the healthcare providers in the clinic.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

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[SunsetPic]

Thank you.

[Jim Allen]

You're welcome

[SunsetPic]

I hope I’m not over posting, but just asking a follow up.  I have the flu and can’t physically get to the clinic so I started researching online and found that if the result is positive, by law they cannot post it on the online account, and per CDC instruction they are to tell you person-to-person unless that would cause undue burden then they can use the phone.  I am panicking.  I have already called three times and left messages for someone to call me back.

Would the specific reason they moved from the "HIV P24 Ag and HIV 1/2 Ab” to doing a blanket appointment for a "HIV 1 ANTIBODY EIA” be to confirm a positive test result?

[Jim Allen]

Would the specific reason they moved from the "HIV P24 Ag and HIV 1/2 Ab” to doing a blanket appointment for a "HIV 1 ANTIBODY EIA” be to confirm a positive test result?

No. An HIV antibody test isn't confirmation testing.

 

started researching online and found that if the result is positive, by law they cannot post it on the online account, and per CDC instruction they are to tell you person-to-person unless that would cause undue burden then they can use the phone.  I am panicking.  I have already called three times and left messages for someone to call me back.

Asked and answered already. Stop googling, you are overthinking things and googling is just causing you more stress when it's not necessary.

Hope you feel better soon. Wait for the clinic to call you back and if they don't go and visit them when the flu is over