Getting tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) just got easier for residents across the Interior Health (IH) region, now that On Demand testing is available at all IH laboratories (http://bit.ly/2PD39aL).
Patients can now visit any IH lab — including the labs at the Ashcroft Hospital, Lillooet Hospital, and the Clinton Health and Wellness Centre — and get an HIV test without having to first visit their physician or nurse practitioner. Patients can fill out a lab requisition on their own and take it to the lab, ask the lab for the test to be done, or ask to have the test added to existing bloodwork that is being ordered.
“Thanks to early diagnosis and advancements in treatment and care, HIV is a chronic, manageable condition,” says Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The first step is learning whether you have HIV, and that’s why I applaud Interior Health for making HIV testing more accessible for British Columbians.”
On Demand HIV testing began in Interior Health in 2016, with an innovative partnership with Valley Medical Laboratories in the Okanagan. Based on the success of that program, Interior Health is excited to now be expanding the service across the region.
“Interior Health is committed to providing accessible and patient-centred care for people in ways that respect their dignity and privacy,” says Doug Cochrane, Interior Health Board Chair.
“By eliminating barriers to testing, and enabling people to be tested on their own terms, we are making it easier for individuals who test positive for HIV to access the care they need.”
Early diagnosis is vital for treatment of HIV, but one in four people living with HIV don’t know it.
“When people have easy access to HIV testing, they are far more willing to get tested,” says Maja Karlsson, Interior Health Manager of Harm Reduction and Health Outreach. “I encourage everyone to get tested for HIV as part of their health routine.”
Patients who request a test at an IH lab will be provided with information about the test and the follow-up process for both negative and positive results. Results are available two weeks after the test occurs. There is no additional follow-up for patients who test negative. Patients who test positive will be contacted by a nurse, who will provide support, education, follow-up care, and referral to a physician when needed.
Non-nominal testing for HIV is not done through the On Demand program. If a patient wishes to test without their name, this can be done through a family physician or nurse practitioner.
On Demand HIV testing is a partnership between Interior Health Laboratory Services and the STOP HIV program, which aims to reduce transmission and improve the health outcomes of those who are living with HIV.
To find the IH lab nearest you, please visit www.interiorhealth.ca/findlab.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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