HIV test procedures for health care providers
In Oregon, patients receiving an HIV test from a licensed health care provider or designee must be notified that HIV testing may occur and must be given an opportunity to decline. Patients can be notified verbally by any member of the health care team or in writing via a general medical consent form, brochure, or fact sheet.
As long as patients are notified that testing may be conducted and can decline to be tested, health care providers are free to decide their own procedures for accomplishing this. If they wish, agencies may insert the following OAR compliant language into their general form for consent for medical treatment.
"You may be tested for HIV. If you want to decline HIV testing, check this box [ ]"
For more information about Oregon laws related to HIV testing,
please see the Oregon HIV laws guide.
Did you know that routine HIV testing is recommended for people 15 - 65 years of age? Learn more in our routine HIV screening fact sheet (pdf).
HIV test procedures for sites funded by OHA
Each HIV test site funded by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is under the oversight of an "ordering physician," and thus, may follow the HIV testing procedures for licensed health care providers as described above. OHA funded HIV test sites have the option to use the model language shown above or to determine their own procedures for notifying clients of the test and their opportunity to decline testing (verbally or in writing).
Additional guidance for OHA-funded HIV test sites is outlined in OHA's
HIV Testing Policies and Procedures (pdf).
All sites collecting an HIV test funded by OHA must complete the HIV Prevention test form found
here.