HIV Counseling and Testing Provider Information

The Tennessee Department of Health’s HIV Testing Program provides guidance, support, and resources for health departments, health care providers, and community-based organizations.

Reporting Reactive/Positive HIV Test Results

All laboratories, health care providers, and organizations that provide HIV testing are required by law to report positive results to Tennessee Department of Health.

Click here for more information about the health, safety, and environmental protection law.

HIV is only one of many communicable diseases that is reportable. Communicable diseases spread from person to person. Prompt reporting of a communicable disease can allow public health officials to locate and treat exposed persons, identify and contain outbreaks, and interrupt disease transmission. The information obtained from disease reporting is also used to monitor disease trends, identify high risk groups, develop policy, and design prevention programs.

Click here for a full list of reportable diseases in Tennessee, reporting forms, and additional resources.

To report a new HIV positive test result, please use the PH-1600 reporting form. If this is your first time reporting a positive HIV test result or if you have questions, please contact Tennessee Department of Health’s HIV Testing Program for assistance.

For facilities who run a large volume of HIV tests and routinely report positive results, it is possible to report online.

Click here for the full reporting guidance for Tennessee health care providers.

Click here for the full reporting guidance for laboratories serving Tennessee residents.

Rapid HIV Testing Programs in Tennessee

Tennessee Department of Health has issued guidance around providing rapid HIV testing. The Double Rapid HIV Testing Guidelines include the current point-of-care double rapid HIV testing algorithm, information about reporting rapid HIV testing results, policy and legal considerations for HIV rapid testing providers in Tennessee, and quality assurance best practices for HIV rapid testing programs. These guidelines are designed for health care providers and community-based organizations.

A double rapid HIV testing program guidance for health departments in Tennessee can be obtained by contacting the HIV Prevention Testing Program.

Non-clinical HIV testing sites using rapid HIV tests must obtain a certificate of waiver under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) or must establish an agreement to work under the CLIA certificate of an existing laboratory.

Click here for more information about the CLIA Certificate of Waiver from the CDC.

Click here to learn more about Tennessee’s CLIA requirements.

The HIV Prevention Testing Program offers technical assistance on how to apply for a CLIA Waiver to conduct rapid HIV testing. For more information contact the HIV Prevention Testing Program.

National Resources to Support HIV Testing Programs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or the CDC) offers many free resources to support HIV testing:

·       HIV Nexus for Clinicians: Effective HIV prevention and treatment occurs across a continuum of care. This comprehensive approach spanning from HIV screening to treatment can help reduce HIV transmission and improve health outcomes for people with HIV (PWH). The CDC HIV Nexus is a one-stop location for information across the HIV continuum, including up-to-date tools and guidelines for your practice, and educational materials for your patients. Click here to visit CDC's HIV Nexus for Clinicians.

·       HIV Testing in Non-Clinical Settings: Non-clinical settings like community-based organizations can play a critical role in HIV prevention by offering HIV screening and linkage-to-care. Non-clinical settings typically offer same-day rapid testing and other HIV prevention services (like free condoms and referrals for PrEP). Click here to access CDC’s guidance on providing HIV testing in non-clinical settings. Click here for a roundup of resources to support this work from the CDC.

·       HIV Testing Guidelines: CDC has HIV testing guidelines for working with specific types of patients, implementing HIV testing in a wide range of situations, and for providing laboratory testing and patient counseling. For a full list of CDC HIV testing guidelines, click here.

Local Resources to Support HIV Testing Programs

AIDS Education and Training Centers

A national network of AIDS Education and Training Centers (also called AETCs) provide training for clinicians and public health professionals:

·       National AIDS Education and Training Center Network: The National AETC connects professionals to the nationwide network of AETCs. Click here to visit the National AETC.

·       Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center: The Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center (also called SEAETC) serves HIV clinicians and public health professionals in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Registration is free and gives you access to a self-paced online learning curriculum, a library of webinars conducted by Southern HIV specialists, opportunities for continuing education credit, and a lot more. Click here to visit SEAETC.

o   SEAETC runs IMPACT, the Interactive Learning to Strengthen HIV Care and End the Epidemic. Click here to get a free IMPACT account and start taking courses.

o   SEAETC runs webinars on topics of interest for HIV testing providers in collaboration with experts from all over the region. Click here to access archived webinars.

o   SEAETC provides opportunities for HIV public health professionals to earn Continuing Education credits (or CEs). Click here to learn more about CE opportunities through SEAETC.

HIV Tester Training through Tennessee Department of Health

Tennessee Department of Health runs a Capacity Building Assistance Program (or CBA Program) for public health professionals working on HIV, STI, and viral hepatitis. The CBA Program runs live, instructor-led courses and online, self-paced training. Continuing Education credits are available for live and self-paced education.

Click here to visit the CBA Program webpage.

All online, self-paced courses are hosted on Tennessee TRAIN, an online hub of professional training for public health professionals.

Click here to visit Tennessee TRAIN.

HIV Education, Access, and Testing Training

The HIV Education, Access, and Testing Training (also called HEAT training) is required certification for HIV testing programs who receive funding or test supplies from Tennessee Department of Health. It is required training for Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) in health departments in the state of Tennessee. It is highly recommended for all facilities providing HIV testing.

This training is conducted in partnership with community-based organizations to ensure that the most updated, culturally appropriate content is provided. 

Click here for more information about HEAT training and a schedule of upcoming HEAT training events.