If you have a confidential HIV test, you will give your name and other identifying information (age, gender) to the test counselor, doctor, or other health care provider, and the test result will be put in your medical record. The names of people who test positive for HIV are given to the New York State Department of Health to
help the department better respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York State (see questions 88, 89). Information about your HIV status is given only to the New York State Department of Health and is kept confidential. The confidentiality of all HIV-related information is protected by New York State Public Health Law.
If you have an anonymous HIV test, you do not have to give your name or any other identifying information. Instead, you are given a code number, which you use to get your test results when you return to the testing site. An anonymous test result is not recorded in your medical record and is not sent to your doctor or to other health care providers. If you test positive for HIV at a site that provides anonymous testing, you can choose to give your name and change the test result to confidential – which allows you to get HIV-related medical care and support services (like housing assistance) without waiting for a second HIV test to confirm the result.
The New York State and New York City HIV/AIDS Hotline numbers listed in the
Resources section can help you find anonymous HIV counseling and testing clinics in your area.
