How do I tell a blood donor that he or she has a positive HIV test?
Jorge A. Rios and Thomas M. Koch



SPECIFIC TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION WITH HIV-POSITIVE BLOOD DONORS
Blood donor HIV tests
We tell the HIV-positive blood donor the following facts about blood donor HIV testing:
1. Blood samples from all donors are tested for HIV.
2. If the screening tests for HIV are positive, the blood samples from the donor are also tested with confirmatory tests.
3. The HIV tests detect the immune response of the body to HIV (antibody tests) or the presence of HIV nucleic acids (RNA) in the bloodstream (NAT).
4. The time period the antibody test takes to become positive after the initial exposure to HIV is approximately 22 days.
5. The time period the NAT takes to become positive after the initial exposure to HIV is about 11 days.14
6. The donor’s screening and confirmatory tests for HIV were positive.

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