Reporting a Diagnosis of HIV or AIDS
Health care providers and laboratories are required to report HIV and AIDS diagnoses in New York State. See the following for reporting requirements and support resources for patients.
Health Care Providers
New York State Public Health Law requires providers to report within 7 days of diagnosis or receipt of laboratory results:
- New HIV diagnoses
- New AIDS diagnoses (if the patient has <200 CD4 cells/µL or an AIDS-related opportunistic infection)
- Previously diagnosed HIV or AIDS (if seeing the patient for the first time)
Providers must report within 24 hours of diagnosis:
Submit reports using the New York State Medical Provider HIV/AIDS and Partner/Contact Report Form (DOH-4189) by:
- Submitting the form electronically through the New York State Health Commerce System’s Provider Portal. For assistance with the portal, see the provider reporting guide (PDF) or call the New York State Department of Health at 518-474-4284.
- Obtaining paper forms from the NYC Health Department or arranging for the pickup of completed paper forms by calling 212-442-3388. You may also fax completed forms to the NYC Health Department at 347-396-8816. To protect patient confidentiality, completed forms must not be mailed to the NYC Health Department.
Laboratories
Laboratories must report:
- Preliminary positive HIV test results, confirmatory HIV diagnoses, and HIV-1/2 differentiation assays
- All results of RNA or DNA HIV nucleic acid testing (including qualitative, quantitative and undetectable results)
- CD4 counts and percents
- HIV nucleotide sequences generated by genotype testing
Laboratories must submit the above information electronically using the New York State Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System (ECLRS).
Support for People with HIV and Their Partners
Providers should notify their patients diagnosed with HIV that they may be contacted by NYC Health Department staff who can assist them to confidentially notify their partners and get linked to care.
Notifying Partners
People diagnosed with HIV may inform their sexual and needle-sharing partners that they may have been exposed to HIV. Alternatively, they may share their partners’ names and contact information with their health care provider, who must submit this information using the Provider HIV/AIDS and Partner/Contact Report Form (DOH-4189) or by calling the NYC Health Department’s Contact Notification Assistance Program at 212-693-1419.
Public health advisors from the NYC Health Department’s Access.Connect.Engage. (ACE) Team will reach out to named partners to link them to HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and supportive services, as needed.
Linkage to Care and Support
ACE Team staff link people newly diagnosed with HIV to HIV care and treatment and other supportive services, including case management, housing assistance, and mental health services.