Nominal HIV testing

Nominal HIV testing is done through a healthcare provider. The test order form asks for the reason that you want the test. The form also asks for personal information, including your:

name, date of birth, and country of birth
gender
race, ethnicity, and Indigeneity
HIV-related risk factors
contact information

If your nominal test is positive, the testing laboratory will report your HIV infection and other personal information, including your name and contact information, to Public Health authorities in Ontario. If you test positive for some other medical conditions, including some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they are also reported.

Your local Public Health Unit will then contact you to offer counselling and support, and to make sure that you have been referred to HIV-related services, including medical care.

Your local Public Health Unit will also require that your sexual and needle-sharing partners be notified that they may have been exposed to HIV. This is known as contact tracing, partner counselling, or partner notification. Depending on the circumstances, your local Public Health unit might:

let you, your doctor, or your nurse practitioner notify your partners and may require proof that your partners were notified
contact your partners directly

Even though Public Health will not give your name to your partners, your partners might figure out that it is about you.

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