Evaluation of a non-name-based HIV reporting system in San Francisco.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and evaluate a non-name-based HIV reporting system.


METHODS
A population-based study of the accuracy of a set of non-name codes and a prospective study of a laboratory-initiated HIV surveillance system conducted at a county hospital (site 1) and a health maintenance organization (site 2). Participants were persons reported with AIDS in San Francisco and patients with a positive test result for HIV antibody, p24 antigen, viral load, or a CD4 count at the study sites.


RESULTS
Proper match rate was 95% for records with complete codes and records with at least 50% of the codes. Proper non-match rate was 99% for records with all code elements and 96% for records with at least 50% of the elements. Completeness of reporting was 89% (site 1) and 87% (site 2). Median number of days between test and receipt of test report at the health department was 9 days at site 1 and 7 days at site 2. During 1999, 78% of HIV-infected patients at site 1 and 87% at site 2 had an HIV-specific laboratory test.


CONCLUSIONS
A non-name-based laboratory reporting system for HIV is feasible.
Schwarcz
Sandra
S
San Francisco Department of Public Health, 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94102, U.S.A. sandy_schwarcz@dph.sf.ca.us
Hsu
Ling
L
Chu
Priscilla Lee
PL
Parisi
Maree Kay
MK
Bangsberg
David
D
Hurley
Leo
L
Pearlman
Jennifer
J
Marsh
Kim
K
Katz
Mitchell
M
D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006766:Hospitals, County; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012042:Registries; D012495:San Francisco