Licensed health care professionals have been required to report the names and other identifiers and risk information on cases of AIDS in every state since 1984. Since new treatments for HIV and AIDS became available in the later half of the 1990s, newly diagnosed AIDS cases have fortunately fallen greatly, leaving the monitoring of AIDS less useful; thus, HIV monitoring rules have increasingly been sought by states.

As of September 1st, 1999 healthcare providers and labs in Washington state are required to report all positive HIV tests their local public health department. Names are used to report HIV infection only to assure the completeness and non-duplication of case reports; and within 3 months after the case report is complete, all names are converted to a non-name code. The state and federal governments never receive case names.

The availability of anonymous testing is considered a vital part of testing options in King County and Washington State. Positive results obtained through anonymous testing are not reportable. However, when HIV positive patients are seen for health care, or HIV-related tests are obtained, the health care provider and labs must report the case. Sites offering anonymous testing can be located by calling the HIV/STD Hotline at 206-205-7837.