How do I tell a blood donor that he or she has a positive HIV test?

Notifying a blood donor of an HIV-positive result, particularly when the person initially denies any HIV risk factors, requires blood collection agencies to have staff capable of providing the HIV-positive donor with relevant facts about HIV/AIDS as well as referrals to HIV/AIDS service providers. Regardless of the donor's age, it is very important to respect the donor's privacy and not to reveal the test results to other parties without donor consent. Face-toface notification provides an opportunity for a direct dialogue and interaction with an HIV-positive donor. The key message to the donor is that having a positive HIV test is not equivalent to having AIDS, and with adequate medical care, a long-termprognosis for most HIV-positive patients is positive. © 2009 American Association of Blood Banks.