Reporting & Investigation of HIV/AIDS

Table of Contents

A. Purpose of Surveillance and Reporting

  • To monitor trends in HIV diagnoses, AIDS diagnoses, and prevalence of persons living with HIV/AIDS so that prevention and treatment funds may be targeted efficiently and prevention programs may be evaluated.

  • To interrupt disease transmission chains by providing partner counseling and testing.

  • To assure referral services for persons recently diagnosed with HIV infection.
  • To monitor perinatal exposures to HIV infection and morbidity in infants born to HIV-infected women.

B. Laboratory and Healthcare Provider Reporting Requirements

Reportable conditions indicative of HIV infection include:

  • Confirmed positive results on any HIV diagnostic test, including antibody tests, antigen tests, cultures, and qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
  • All levels of quantitative tests (viral loads), including RT-PCR, branched chain DNA, and NASBA viral load assays.  Results less than the detectable limit of the test should be reported.
  • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-defining conditions.
  • All levels of CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell counts.  Values for the absolute count and the percentage of total lymphocytes should be included.
  • Birth of an infant to an HIV-infected mother (perinatal exposure) or any (positive, negative, or undetectable) non-antibody detection test (antigen test, viral culture, viral load, or qualitative PCR detection test) on an infant less than or equal to 18 months of age.  These are tests indicative of perinatal exposures.  Negative antibody tests (EIA, immunofluorescence, or Western blot) should not be reported.
  • Death of a person with HIV/AIDS, from any cause.

Physicians or other healthcare providers must report cases within 7 days of a positive HIV test; diagnosis of HIV, AIDS, or AIDS-defining conditions; or upon first examination or treatment for HIV/AIDS (for new patients who have been previously diagnosed elsewhere).  Hospitals or care providers should report births of infants to HIV-infected women (i.e., perinatal exposures).

Patient demographics, laboratory information, and patient history should be reported on form CDC 50.42A for adults and adolescents (³ 13 years of age) and form CDC 50.42B for pediatric HIV or AIDS cases and perinatal exposures to HIV.  Case report forms may be obtained from the HIV/AIDS Program at (515) 242-5141. 

Laboratory personnel should forward results of tests directly to the Iowa Department of Public Health.  Optional, postage-paid envelopes are available at the Clearinghouse. Request “03” envelopes at (319-398-5133) or send reports to the address below.

Case report forms and laboratory results may be addressed directly to:

Iowa Department of Public Health 
Bureau of HIV, STD and Hepatitis (03) Confidential
321 East 12th Street 
Des Moines, IA   50319-0075

C.  Local Public Health Agency Follow-up Responsibilities

Case Investigation

Partner notification and referral services will be provided by disease prevention specialists employed by the Iowa Department of Public Health, or by Black Hawk, Linn, Polk, or Scott county health departments.