Final answer:
Pre-visit screenings for FTR appointments, such as HIV screening follow-ups, are scheduled at least 3 weeks after the patient's last hospital visit to reduce false negatives, with a counseling protocol in place for false positives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to protocols for pre-visit screening by the primary care team, specifically in the context of scheduling follow-up appointments for HIV screening. According to the scenario provided, after notifying patients, the hospital set up HIV screening appointments at a minimum of 3 weeks after their last hospital visit. This time frame is chosen to minimize the risk of false negatives. Additionally, for patients who receive a positive indirect ELISA result, a counseling protocol was established by the public health physician to address potential false positives.