Method and system for anonymously testing for a human malady

• US 5,978,466 A
• Filed: 10/02/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pwnhealth Chicago LLC
• Original Assignee: Home Access Health Corp. (Everly Well, Inc.)
• Inventors: Quattrocchi, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): STUCKER, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US08/942,903
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 435/5, 435/7.92, 435/974, 436/530, 422/55, 422/56, 364/340, 364/400, 364/413.01, 364/413.07, 379/265, 379/67, 379/70, 379/196, 379/212, 379/309
• US Class Current: 379/265.01
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5091 for testing the pathological state of an organism
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/974 Aids related test

Abstract

An anonymous testing system for taking a sample of body fluid to be tested, the sample is acquired in private and sent for analyzation to obtain results. The system comprises a test kit for creating a sample of body fluid, a personal code for anonymously identifying the sample and the person, and an electronic file telephonically created and accessed by the person taking the test and identified by the personal code. The electronic file contains the test results determined by analyzation. There is also a method of anonymously testing of a person'"'"'s body fluid in private and the results to be anonymously received by the person without having to reveal his or her identification. The method comprises the steps of procuring a test kit for taking a sample of the body fluid. The test kit has a personal code associated therewith and equipment to take the sample. The person uses the equipment to obtain the sample and sends the sample with the personal code to a testing site. The person also creates a personal electronic file telephonically; the file is identified by the personal code. The sample is identified by the personal code. At the testing site, the sample is tested, and the results are updated into the electronic file with a corresponding personal code. The person later accesses the electronic file telephonically to obtain his or her results.

Claims

1. In a medical testing method wherein a user submits from a remote location a specimen to a testing facility to be tested for a medical condition, a method for processing a user communication prior to testing of said specimen, the method comprising the steps of:

querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling; and

selectively routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of establishing a file for said user upon receipt of said communication.

3. A method according to claim 2, said test result being selected from the group consisting of a positive result corresponding to the presence of a medical condition and a negative result corresponding to the absence of said medical condition.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said steps of querying and selectively routing said communication to a counselor are performed only if said test result is a negative result.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said medical condition is infection with HIV.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a specimen from said user;

testing said specimen and determining a test result;

receiving a subsequent communication from said user;

prior to accessing of said test result by said user, querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling; and

selectively routing said subsequent communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said specimen is an oral specimen.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

routing said subsequent communication to a test result access call handler if said user does not desire counseling prior to receiving said test result;

providing said test result to said user;

querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling; and

selectively routing said subsequent communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling after receiving said test result.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said user is anonymously identified by a personal identification code.

10. A system for processing a user communication in connection with medical testing, said user submitting from a remote location a test specimen to a medical testing laboratory, the system comprising:

means for receiving a remote communication from a user;

means for querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling prior to submission of said specimen; and

means for selectively routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling.

11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising means for establishing a file for said user upon receiving said communication.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein said user is anonymously identified by a personal identification code.

13. A method for medical testing for a medical condition, comprising the steps of:

receiving a test specimen from a user;

testing said specimen and determining a test result;

receiving a remote communication from said user;

prior to accessing of said test result by said user, querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling;

selectively routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said specimen is an oral specimen.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

providing said test result to said user;

querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling; and

selectively routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling after receiving said test result.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein said user is anonymously identified by a personal identification code.

17. In a medical testing system wherein a user submits a specimen to a testing facility to be tested for a medical condition, a system comprising:

means for receiving a communication from a user subsequent to submission of said test specimen to the testing facility;

means for querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling prior to accessing a test result; and

means for selectively routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said user is anonymously identified by a personal identification code.

19. A medical testing method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a specimen from a user;

testing said specimen and determining a test result;

receiving a communication from said user;

providing said test result to said user;

querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling; and

selectively routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said specimen is an oral specimen.

21. A method according to claim 19, said test result being selected from the group consisting of a positive result corresponding to the presence of a medical condition and a negative result corresponding to the absence of said medical condition.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said steps of querying and selectively routing said communication to a counselor are performed only if said test result is a negative result.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein said medical condition is infection with HIV.

24. A method according to claim 19, wherein said user is anonymously identified by a personal identification code.

25. In a medical testing system wherein a test specimen is received at a testing facility and is tested for a medical condition yielding a test result, a system comprising:

means for receiving a communication from said user;

means for providing said test result to said user;

means for querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling after said user has been provided with said result; and

means for selectively routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling.

26. A system according to claim 25, said test result being selected from the group consisting of a positive result corresponding to the presence of a medical condition and a negative result corresponding to the absence of said medical condition.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said steps of querying and selectively routing said communication to a counselor are performed only if said test result is a negative result.

28. A system according to claim 26, wherein said medical condition is infection with HIV.

29. A system according to claim 25, wherein said user is anonymously identified by a personal identification code.

30. In a medical testing method wherein a user submits a specimen to a testing facility to be tested for a medical condition, a method for processing a user communication comprising:

receiving a communication from said user;

determining whether said user has previously established a user file; and

selectively routing said communication to a file generation call handler if said user has not previously established a user file.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said specimen is an oral specimen.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein said user is anonymously identified by a personal identification code.

33. A method according to claim 30, including the steps of:

receiving a personal identification code;

verifying said personal identification code against a database of valid personal identification codes after receiving said personal identification code; and

routing said user communication to said file generation call handler only if only if said personal identification code represents a valid personal identification code.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein said user file includes a patient record and a call log, said patient record including non-identifying information about said user.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein said non-identifying information includes the person'"'"'s age.

36. A method according to claim 34, wherein said non-identifying information includes the person'"'"'s gender.

37. A method according to claim 34, wherein said non-identifying information includes the person'"'"'s ZIP code.

38. A method according to claim 34, wherein said non-identifying information includes the person'"'"'s age and gender.

39. A method according to claim 34, wherein said non-identifying information includes the person'"'"'s age, gender, and ZIP code.

40. A method according to claim 34, wherein said non-identifying information includes risk factors.

41. A method according to claim 34, wherein said non-identifying information includes the person'"'"'s expected test results.

42. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

after generation of a user file by said file generation call handler, querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling; and

routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling.

43. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling if said user has previously established a user file; and

routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling.

44. A method according to claim 43, further comprising the steps of:

providing a test result to said user;

querying said user as to whether said user desires counseling; and

selectively routing said communication to a counselor if said user desires counseling after said user has been provided with said test result.

45. A method according to claim 44, said test result being selected from the group consisting of a positive result corresponding to the presence of a medical condition and a negative result corresponding to the absence of said medical condition.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein said steps of querying and selectively routing said communication to a counselor are performed only if said test result is a negative result.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein said medical condition is infection with HIV.

48. A method according to claim 30, including the step of authorizing the testing facility to perform a test on the specimen if said user has not previously established a user file.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein said step of authorizing includes generating a laboratory order request.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein said laboratory order request is anonymously identified by a personal code, said personal code being identified with said personal file.

51. A method for anonymous testing for a medical condition, comprising the steps of:

receiving an oral specimen from a user;

testing said oral specimen and obtaining a test result;

receiving a communication from a user, said user being anonymously identified by a personal identification code; and

providing said test result to said user.

52. A method according to claim 51, further comprising the steps of:

prior to receiving said oral sample, providing an oral specimen collection kit to said user.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein said personal identification code is unique to said kit.

54. A method according to claim 52, wherein said oral sample is a mucosal transudate sample.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein said test specimen collection kit includes an absorbent pad for collection of said sample.

56. A method according to claim 51, wherein said medical condition is HIV.

57. A method for anonymous testing for a medical condition, comprising the steps of:

obtaining an oral specimen collection kit, said kit being associated with a unique personal identification code;

obtaining an oral specimen and associating said specimen with said kit;

sending said oral specimen to a medical testing facility;

initiating a communication with said testing facility;

providing said personal identification code to said testing facility; and

receiving a test result.

58. A method according to claim 57, wherein said oral sample is a mucosal transudate sample.

59. A method according to claim 58, wherein said test specimen collection kit includes an absorbent pad for collection of said sample.

60. A method according to claim 57, wherein said medical condition is HIV.