Question

A health screening was held, and the nurse reported the number and names of persons with positive test results to the agency director. What, however, is even more important than reporting this information?

a. Being sure that each client had identification so that no false names could be used
b. Keeping legal documentation of both negative and positive results
c. Telling the person with positive test results where they might go for treatment
d. Using the cheapest screening approach possible

Answer 1

The most important action after reporting positive test results is to inform the individual where they might go for treatment to manage their condition effectively. Legal documentation is crucial for both legal and patient care continuity, and privacy protection is imperative. False-positive rates and further confirmatory testing protocols are also significant for accurate diagnosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, the health screening reported by the nurse is important, but what is even more important than merely reporting the names and numbers of people with positive test results is (c) informing the person with positive test results where they might go for treatment. After a positive result, the next critical step is to ensure the individual receives appropriate counseling, confirmatory testing if necessary, and is guided towards appropriate medical care to manage their condition effectively. When dealing with diseases such as HIV, early detection and prompt treatment are crucial, as they can significantly slow the progression of the disease and improve patient outcomes.

Concerning the data from the health screening, it is vital to maintain legal documentation of both negative and positive results (option b). This documentation serves as a record for both legal purposes and for the continuity of patient care. Additionally, in the event of a false positive result, as indicated by the ELISA test, confirmatory tests like the western blot and PCR must be administered to confirm or rule out the infection. Protecting patients' privacy (as mentioned in the resolution) is a fundamental ethical practice in healthcare that is imperative when collecting and storing health data.

To answer the numerical questions posed, out of the 1300 patients, eight tested positive using the ELISA, but five of these were invalidated by negative western blot tests. If these numbers are indicative of the broader screening process, we would expect a false-positive rate similar to this ratio, and similarly, a proportion of any false positives may have indeterminate western blots that require PCR testing. If a patient's western blot is indeterminate, protocol requires administering a third test, such as PCR, to confirm the presence or absence of HIV sequences.