Skip to Content

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.24.105

Link to the law
This will open in a new window

Disclosure of an HIV or Other Sexually Transmitted Disease Test

No person may disclose the identity of any person who has investigated, considered, or requested a test or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease.  This protection also applies to any information relating to diagnosis or treatment of a sexually transmitted disease.

However, in a few instances a third party may receive such information.  Some of these include:

  •         Public health officers or the Centers for Disease Control in accordance with reporting requirements for a diagnosed case of a sexually transmitted disease
  •         A person allowed access to the medical record by a court order granted after showing good cause
  •         Persons who may have been placed at risk for acquisition of a sexually transmitted disease because of their behavioral interaction with the patient, if the provider believes that the exposed person was unaware that a risk of disease exposure existed and disclosure is necessary
  •         A health care worker, firefighter or law enforcement personnel that have come into contact with an individual’s bodily fluids that may harbor a sexually transmitted disease
  •         Social workers responsible for children under 14 years of age, and who are making case planning decisions for a child with a sexually transmitted disease.
  •         Claims management personnel employed by an insurer
  •         Appropriate personnel in state correctional facilities if the patient is under supervision

Any person to whom identifying information has been disclosed may not share that information with any other person.  Whenever information is disclosed to a third party, it must be accompanied by the following release:

“This information has been disclosed to you from records whose confidentiality is protected by state law. State law prohibits you from making any further disclosure of it without the specific written consent of the person to whom it pertains, or as otherwise permitted by state law. A general authorization for the release of medical or other information is NOT sufficient for this purpose.”


Current as of June 2015