Final answer:
The CDC's recommendation for routine voluntary HIV screening is to perform testing without written consent, allowing patients the option to opt-out. Hospitals use an indirect ELISA test for initial screening, followed by confirmatory testing if necessary. Appointments must be scheduled to minimize false negatives and support protocols established for counseling.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for routine voluntary HIV screening advocate for a public health approach that emphasizes the necessity of early detection and treatment of HIV. The correct answer to the student's question is d. Performing testing without written consent unless the patient opts out. This approach is intended to simplify the testing process and increase the number of individuals being tested, but it still allows patients to refuse testing if they choose. Following a potential exposure incident, such as the one involving 1300 patients at a hospital, the CDC's recommendation would facilitate widespread and rapid screening, which is crucial for the early detection of HIV.
To determine if a patient has HIV, initial testing typically involves an indirect ELISA test, which, if positive, will be followed up with further confirmatory testing such as a Western blot or an HIV RNA test. In the case of potential exposure, it's important to schedule tests a minimum of 3 weeks after the last potential contact to minimize the risk of false negatives, while simultaneously setting up a counseling protocol to prepare for both false positives and the emotional impact of a positive diagnosis.