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Non-Nominal HIV Surveillance: Preserving Privacy While Tracking an Epidemic

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Abstract

Objective: To enhance HIV surveillance within a non-nominal provincial testing system.

Methods: Confirmatory HIV tests from a provincial laboratory were analyzed during 1995 and 1996. Enhancements included elimination of repeat positive tests for the same individual using automated matching of non-nominal identifiers and nurse call-back of health care providers, completion of missing information through call-back and connection of providers with resources for patient care.

Results: Forty-seven percent of 2,683 reactive HIV tests were identified as duplicates for the same individual, meaning that 1,401 people tested positive for the first time. From laboratory test data to enhanced unduplicated data after call-back, the proportion of tests for which risk and ethnic information was unknown dropped from 37% to 11% and from 64% to 18% respectively (p<0.0001).

Conclusions: Enhanced non-nominal surveillance for HIV is a practical means of marrying the needs of public health for epidemiological information and the rights of patients to privacy.

Résumé

Objectif: Améliorer la surveillance du VIH à l’intérieur d’un système de dépistage provincial non-nominal.

Méthodes: Les tests de confirmation du VIH provenant du laboratoire provincial furent analysés utilisant un système de surveillance amélioré en 1995 et 1996. Les doublons furent éliminés à l’aide d’un système informatique jumelant les données non-nominales et d’une infirmière appelant les travailleurs de la santé. Lors des appels, l’infirmière recueillait certains renseignements manquants et informait quant aux ressources disponibles pour les patients.

Résultats: Quarante-sept pour cent des 2 683 tests positifs au VIH furent identifiés comme doublons provenant de mêmes individus. Des données de laboratoires brutes aux données améliorées, la proportion des tests pour lesquels les facteurs de risque et l’origine ethnique étaient inconnus a baissé de 37% à 11% et de 64% à 18% respectivement (p<0,0001).

Conclusion: La surveillance non-nominale du VIH est un moyen pratique de répondre aux besoins de données épidémiologiques de la santé publique et du respect des droits à la confidentialité des individus.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of STD/AIDS Control, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Society, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4R4, Canada

    David M. Patrick MD, FRCPC, MHSc, Michael L. Rekart MD, FRCPC, DTM&H, Darrel Cook MSc, Daphne Spencer RN & Anthony D. Rees RN

  2. Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada

    David M. Patrick MD, FRCPC, MHSc & Michael L. Rekart MD, FRCPC, DTM&H

  3. British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Canada

    Steffanie A. Strathdee PhD

  4. Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Canada

    Steffanie A. Strathdee PhD

Authors
  1. David M. Patrick MD, FRCPC, MHSc
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  2. Michael L. Rekart MD, FRCPC, DTM&H
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  3. Darrel Cook MSc
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  4. Steffanie A. Strathdee PhD
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  5. Daphne Spencer RN
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  6. Anthony D. Rees RN
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David M. Patrick MD, FRCPC, MHSc.

Additional information

This work was supported by a grant from the Bureau of HIV and STD, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada.

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Patrick, D.M., Rekart, M.L., Cook, D. et al. Non-Nominal HIV Surveillance: Preserving Privacy While Tracking an Epidemic. Can J Public Health 90, 164–167 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404499

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404499

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