2005 Rhode Island Code - § 23-6-26 — Laboratory analysis for HIV.

    (a) All biological samples or specimens taken from Rhode Island residents for the purpose of performing laboratory analysis for the detection of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), by or under the direction or order of any physician licensed to practice medicine in this state, shall be sent to the Rhode Island department of health laboratory for analysis. Specimens analyzed for the sole purpose of assuring the safety of the blood supply or for strictly research purposes may be tested for HIV antibody in other licensed laboratories. This provision shall not apply to those HIV tests performed in a hospital laboratory. Hospitals shall forward all positive HIV test results to the department of health.

   (b) No physician or laboratory providing samples or specimens for HIV-testing, or results of HIV tests to the department, shall include the name of the patient or any other information which would identify the person tested.