To think consent is required to do a HIV or hepatitis blood test??

[Onionbhajisandwich]

Hi all,

Please tell me if I’m wrong here but do the NHS require consent to test for HIV or Hepatitis?? I would have thought they did.

I attended A and E last month (sent by my GP) as I had suspected pneumonia. I received a text today stating this:

“You recently attended the Emergency Department. We are part of an NHS programme testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C but your test wasn't processed due to technical issues. Please attend one of the walk-in blood test centres, Mon - Fri 8am- 4.30pm. We requested the repeat test electronically, so please give your NHS number on arrival. We will only contact you if the test is positive and you need care”

I’m a bit surprised that they can screen you without consent - as far as I knew the blood tests that they did we for infection markers and a full blood count, along with one that checks for clotting.

I won’t be attending to get the tests done as it’s within work time but aibu to think this isn’t ok??

What is your objection?

www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/emergency-department-opt-out-testing-for-hiv-hepatitis-b-and-hepatitis-c-the-first-100-days/

Some trusts now run implied consent now when bloods are taken in ED so it's done as routine. It would also be an appropriate test for someone without risk factors pneumonia

Why on earth should it be any different to any other blood test?

When HIV is common enough, "universal screening" is really important to find people who are living with HIV and don't know it. Doing these tests saves lives and can stop HIV being passed onto other people. And there are lots of people living with HIV who do not have any of the typical "high risk" factors.

I had a couple of trips to A&E last year and I remember seeing both times a big sign sayng that the hospital trust test all blood for HIV and hepatitis B. I can't remember what the sign said exactly, i.e. whether you could request to opt out, or it is a case that it is done routinely so like it or lump it, but it was very clear, both times I was there. So, I assume that is how they get round it. Personally I'm all for it.

I think many trusts test routinely for HIV in line with NICE guidelines. I think this should be published somewhere, whether on a poster or leaflet but I believe it's opt out.

It can be important to rule out underlying conditions when people present with Pneumonia. I would recommend that you have the test OP. In the unlikely event of the test being positive, the right treatment could improve your quality of life and be literally life saving.

I saw a poster advising this during a trip to A&E last month. Don't see the problem.

I thought it was routine at all hospitals these days. It is good to identify people who are unaware they have these illnesses.

This should be explained to you. If you don’t want testing you should be able to opt out.

YABU

Regardless of if they're doing general HIV screening, pneumonia can be a result of HIV and sometimes it's the first symptom someone is HIV+. Basically there could be a clinical need to test you for HIV anyway if you're presenting with pneumonia. Do you also want to consent to every other specific diagnostic blood test before they carry it out?

You used to have to be counselled prior to the test iirc, but that was years ago.

I'm also a bit confused why anyone would opt out of this. Are you concerned about HIV OP?

I’ve had 3 patients in my work history diagnosed with HIV when undergoing blood tests for ongoing respiratory problems.

always women with cheating husbands sadly.

i think it’s fair to test and many departments have information displayed saying so.

Yabu

I can't understand that you would go to A&E as so ill and then object to the fact they test for something that can present as respiratory problems. Even without the respiratory issues, if you are ill enough to present at A&E why wouldn't you expect or want or think you don't need a blood screen for what the medical experts/NICE deem appropriate

You are applying 1980s /1990s thoughts to 2025 YABU

I think it's absolutely amazing they are blanket testing for HIV and if someone has such a massive issue with it they can opt out.
If I had it I would want to know, and if it helps to prevent transmission then isn't that only a good thing?

I think this is a really positive thing and maybe if it becomes a routine part of testing the stigma and fear of HIV, which isn’t a death sentence anymore, will lessen. Both of these illnesses stand a better chance if treated earlier.

I don't disagree it's an amazing screening to have in place but as a health professional I cannot imagine taking anyone's blood without informed consent. It's a basic principle. We screen for hiv as part of booking bloods but I always tell the women what tests we are doing.

Pneumonia is quite commonly found amongst aids patients so I guess they wanted to make sure they had the right diagnosis

You do know that HIV is treatable these days op?

Many people who were given infected blood in transfusions still don’t know they have hepatitis. The NHS has signs up in our a and e department to let you know you will be tested for these viruses so they can help treat people and stop the spread. It’s a good thing.

I agree op that you should have been informed and given the chance to opt out. Doesn't matter how great a service it is , you should still have the opportunity to say no to it.

You where very sick with an infection that was overwhelming your immune system so they where looking for an infection that can do that and ran several blood tests including a blood test for an infection that overwhelms the immune system?

Is that right?

Wheres your objection?

They did exactly what you went there for, if you had to personally understand and consent to every single individual test for possible infections then the paperwork would be insane and the wait time way longer while professionals try to explain to people with no knowledge what every single test is.

You where sick, you went for help and gave informed consent for any relevant tests to diagnose you.

I knew about this and welcome it
I think the admission form tells you this.

Routine testing is a great thing. Remove the stigma and prevent transmission! What reason could you possibly have to object to these tests?

OP, if they took blood, presumably you consented to a blood test. I don’t think there is anything about testing for HIV specifically that requires special permission. It’s seems like allowing the stigma of AIDS to negatively impact healthcare provision is something we left behind several decades ago. But they should have needed consent for a blood test and that consent should have involved telling you what the blood teat was for.

If not, they really should have, and you have grounds for a complaint, though I doubt it would have much impact other than you maybe getting a pro forma apology unless lots of people have complained about the same thing. If they did tell you and they mentioned several specific things but did not mention HIV, I think you also have grounds for a complaint. If they told you something along the lines of “common illnesses that cause respiratory problems” or gave you a list of things you didn’t bother to read, or some other catch all, and you didn’t dig into it then not so much. I know I’ve glossed over the specifics of things that I’m being tested for when I’ve been ill - trusting the staff to know better than me what is useful for diagnosising or treating me. It’s not an ideal approach but it’s hard when you’re ill to take everything in.