Connecticut man not notified of positive HIV test for eight months

The Connecticut Veterans' Home and Hospital in Rocky Hill, Conn., failed for eight months to notify a patient that he had tested positive for HIV antibodies, The Hartford Courant reports. The man was tested on October 3, 2001, and returned for the test results nine days later but was not told he had tested positive for HIV antibodies until June 2, 2002. Hospital officials did not give a reason for the delay but did implement a new policy that prohibits HIV antibody tests from being given to patients staying in the hospital for less than 24 hours. There was no report as to whether the man's HIV disease progressed to a dangerous stage during the eight-month window.

The incident at the hospital was one of numerous violations listed in a Connecticut Department of Public Health report released in late August. The hospital has previously been cited by state authorities for several other health and safety violations.