LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 355.02 HIV Point-of-Care Test - Oral Fluid
 
Policy Category:  Clinical
Distribution Level:  Directly Operated
Responsible Party:  Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
 
Approved by Curley L. Bonds, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, on Jul 19, 2023
 
I.  PURPOSE
 
This policy establishes the use of a Oraquick in-home HIV-1/HIV-2 Antibody diagnostic test for the detection of HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies in clients at DMH directly operated clinics.
 
II.  DEFINITIONS
 
Clinic: Any DMH directly operated facility

Oraquick HIV-1/HIV-2 Antibody Test: CLIA-waived,  in-vitro, point-of-care (POC), client self-administered, qualitative test for the accurate detection of antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) and Type 2 (HIV-2) in oral fluid

Authorized personnel: Physician, registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, nurse practitioner, psychiatric technician, clinical pharmacist. 
 
III.  POLICY
 
Clinical competency shall be demonstrated to and deemed satisfactory by Chief of Nursing or designee on annual basis.

Authorized personnel shall use universal precaution guidelines for infectious materials in handling and disposing of specimens and used test materials.

Only authorized personnel shall provide instructions to clients on how to perform HIV POC test.

Test kit shall be stored away from direct sunlight, moisture and heat.
  • Test kit shall not be frozen.
  • Test kit shall be stored between 2°C to 27°C (36°F to 80°F).
Authorized personnel shall check expiration date of test kit prior to use.
  • Opened or expired test kit shall not be used.
  • Test kits that have been exposed to household cleaning products shall not be used.
Used test kit shall be discarded properly.
 
Authorized personnel who perform and interpret test result shall also document result in IBHIS.
 
IV.  PROCEDURES
 
V.  AUTHORITY
 
VI.  ATTACHMENT