Confidentiality in the clinic

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) clinics are the most reliably confidential parts of the Health Service. People attending STI clinics are legally protected under the VD Act.

Informing your GP

Some clinics may wish to notify your GP even though you may have no symptoms of HIV infection. You may or may not want this to happen depending on your relationship with your GP. Ask beforehand whether they intend doing this.

If you are HIV-positive and have symptoms then the hospital will want to tell your GP. This is medically advisable so as to avoid any dangerous delay in diagnosis from now on. Again, try to make sure that they are aware of the need for confidentiality and that your GP is sufficiently well informed to know that a positive test result on its own does not mean that you have AIDS.

Informing other doctors in the hospital

If you are referred to other departments within the hospital, the specialists there will probably be told your result. This is then likely to go into your general hospital notes which tend to be less confidential than those kept in the STI clinic. The result may then be available to any doctor, nurse, or anyone else who sees your case notes. Even if you know that a positive test result does not equal AIDS, they may not. Try to speak to a senior doctor to make sure about how confidential your records will be in such situations.

Using a false name

Some people take the test using a false name. It is not illegal to do this. But write it down so you don't forget it, and make sure they can get in contact with you at whatever address you do give.

Who to tell

While it is very important to have someone to talk to, think carefully about which of your friends you can really trust. Try to decide before you get the result who you want to confide in. A positive result is always a shock and there is often a temptation to tell people who you would later prefer not to know. You can always tell people later, but you can't untell them. But also consider the effect on your friendships if you decide to tell some people but not others.

There is no need for your employer or work colleagues to know that you are even having the test, let alone if the result is positive. Even knowing that you have been tested can make some people react badly because of ignorance or prejudice.