Final answer:
A patient must consent to HIV serologic testing after an exposure incident, which respects medical ethics and patient rights. Hospitals test patients to limit HIV transmission and to provide early treatment. Serological tests and NATs are among the methods used to diagnose HIV.
Step-by-step explanation:
Consent for HIV Serologic Testing
Must a patient consent to have HIV serologic testing done after an exposure incident? The answer is A. Yes. Patient consent is essential before conducting HIV serologic testing due to ethical norms and medical practice regulations which respect patient autonomy and confidentiality.
HIV Testing and Its Importance
Hospitals may feel it is necessary to test every patient for HIV to manage potential exposures to the virus, limit transmission, and initiate timely treatment. Common types of tests used to determine if a patient has HIV include serological tests for antibodies and/or HIV antigens, as well as nucleic acid tests (NAT) for the presence of the virus. After exposure incidents, the standard protocol often includes an initial screening using an indirect ELISA test, followed by confirmation with a Western blot test or PCR if necessary.
Following an incident that raised the possibility of HIV exposure for patients, a hospital might conduct widespread testing to minimize false negatives and anticipate false positives. An early detection protocol, including counseling for those who test positive, is critical since early intervention can significantly slow the progression of HIV.
If someone's CD4 T cell count is at 700/μL and there are no apparent illnesses, their HIV infection would be in stage 1 (A).