Diagnostic HIV Laboratory

The Diagnostic HIV Laboratory (DHL) is an automated and computerized public health HIV testing laboratory. The DHL is a reference laboratory that confirms HIV status for patients screened reactive using HIV rapid tests and that determines the HIV status of patients with unusual or conflicting HIV test results. To submit a specimen from a difficult to diagnose patient, health care providers should contact the laboratory at (518) 474-2163.

The laboratory performs several HIV-1 and an HIV-2 enzyme immunoassay (EIA), HIV-1 bDNA, HIV-1 RNA PCR, and the following HIV rapid tests: OraQuick Advance, Multispot HIV-1/2, Reveal, and Unigold. The laboratory participates in proficiency testing programs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Model Performance Evaluation Program (CDC MPEP), College of American Pathologists (CAP), and NYS and meets all quality assurance standards for HIV testing.