Method and system for anonymously testing for a human malady

• US 6,226,378 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• 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:
  US09/431,883
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 435/5, 435/7.92, 435/974, 436/530, 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: 705/3
• 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 confidential testing system, a method for routing and handling a plurality of in-coming inquiries initiated by a plurality of anonymous users, each of said anonymous users having previously provided a specimen for evaluation to a testing facility prior to said in-coming inquiries, comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving an inquiry initiated by an anonymous user;

(B) prompting said anonymous user to transmit a personal identification code corresponding to a specimen previously provided to said testing facility by said anonymous user prior to making said inquiry;

(C) receiving said personal identification code;

(D) retrieving in response to said personal identification code test result information associated with said specimen previously provided to said testing facility by said anonymous user;

(E) selecting, in response to said test result information, a handler from a plurality of handlers for processing said inquiries;

(F) routing said inquiry to said handler; and

(G) providing said test result information to said anonymous user with said selected handler.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said specimen provided by said anonymous user is subject to evaluation prior to receiving said inquiry in step (A) in order to determine whether said anonymous user has a specific medical condition.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said test result information received in step (D) corresponds to a positive test result if said evaluation of said specimen indicates that said anonymous user has said specific medical condition, and wherein said test result information received in step (D) corresponds to a negative test result if said evaluation of said specimen indicates that said anonymous user does not have said specific medical condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said specific medical condition corresponds to the contraction by said anonymous user of a virus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said specimen is a blood specimen and said virus is the HIV virus.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said plurality of handlers includes at least one live handler and at least one automated handler.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a live handler is selected in step (E) only if said test result information corresponds to a positive test result.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein an automated handler is selected in step (E) only if said test result information corresponds to a negative test result.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of verifying said personal identification code against the database of valid personal identification codes after receiving said personal identification code in step (C) and routing said inquiry to said handler in step (F) only if said personal identification code represents a valid personal identification code.

10. In a testing system, an apparatus for routing and handling a plurality of incoming inquiries initiated by a plurality of anonymous users, each of said anonymous users having previously providing a specimen for evaluation to a testing facility prior to said in-coming inquiry, comprising:

(A) means for receiving an inquiry initiated by an anonymous user;

(B) means for prompting said anonymous user to transmit a personal identification code corresponding to a specimen previously provided to said testing facility by said anonymous user prior to making said inquiry;

(C) means for receiving said personal identification code;

(D) means for retrieving, in response to said personal identification code, test result information associated with said specimen previously provided to said medical testing facility by said anonymous user;

(E) means for selecting, in response to said test result information, a handler from a plurality of handlers for processing said inquiry;

(F) means for routing said inquiry to said selected handler; and

(G) means for providing said test result information to said anonymous user with said selected handler.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said test result information retrieved by said means for retrieving corresponds to a positive test result if an evaluation of said specimen indicates that said anonymous user has a specific medical condition, and wherein said test result information retrieved by said means for retrieving corresponds to a negative test result if said evaluation of said specimen indicates that said anonymous user does not have said specific medical condition.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said specific medical condition corresponds to the contraction by said anonymous user of a virus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said specimen is a blood specimen, and said virus is the HIV virus.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said plurality of handlers includes at least one live handler and at least one automated handler.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a live handler is selected by said means for selecting only if said test result information corresponds to a positive test result.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an automated handler is selected by said means for selecting if said test result information corresponds to a negative result.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for verifying said personal identification code against a database of valid personal identification codes after said means of receiving said personal identification code has received said personal identification code, wherein said means for routing is responsive to means for verifying and routes said inquiry to said selected handler only if said personal identification code represents a valid personal identification code.