Module 2: Informed Consent
Completion requirements
Module 2: Informed Consent
Module 2: Informed Consent, Screen 7 of 15
A Preliminary Positive Result Needs Confirmation
Sylvia: There are a couple of options for how we collect the test sample. You can do an oral swab, or you can go with the finger stick, where we take a small drop of blood from your finger. Do you have a preference for one over the other?
David: I want to do the same one I did last time. I’ll go with the oral one.
Sylvia: OK. The test has two possible results. The first is a negative test result. That means that there are no HIV antibodies detected in the sample.
The other test result is preliminary positive. This means that HIV antibodies were very likely detected and, very likely, the person is infected with HIV. When someone tests preliminary positive, we need a second sample to send to the lab to confirm it as a positive result. Would that be OK with you?
David: I thought this test was really accurate. Why does someone need to give a second sample if it’s so reliable?
Sylvia: Great question. This is a screening test. Although it is highly accurate, the standard of care for all types of screening tests in the United States is to confirm them with a second sample. No test is 100 percent, and we want to be certain. Does that make sense?
David: Yeah, sure.
A Preliminary Positive Result Needs Confirmation
Sylvia: There are a couple of options for how we collect the test sample. You can do an oral swab, or you can go with the finger stick, where we take a small drop of blood from your finger. Do you have a preference for one over the other?David: I want to do the same one I did last time. I’ll go with the oral one.
Sylvia: OK. The test has two possible results. The first is a negative test result. That means that there are no HIV antibodies detected in the sample.
The other test result is preliminary positive. This means that HIV antibodies were very likely detected and, very likely, the person is infected with HIV. When someone tests preliminary positive, we need a second sample to send to the lab to confirm it as a positive result. Would that be OK with you?
David: I thought this test was really accurate. Why does someone need to give a second sample if it’s so reliable?
Sylvia: Great question. This is a screening test. Although it is highly accurate, the standard of care for all types of screening tests in the United States is to confirm them with a second sample. No test is 100 percent, and we want to be certain. Does that make sense?
David: Yeah, sure.