Naming names.

Name-based reporting of AIDS diagnoses, mandatory in the U.S. since 1982, generates profound concern among advocacy, civil rights, and consumer communities who argue that it discourages people from obtaining testing. The use of unique identifier numbers, particularly those with encryption capabilities, is a reasonable alternative to name-based reporting. Because it lowers the risk of testing avoidance, unique identifier-based reporting is seen as an effective data collection tool. A number of unique identifier systems now exist for HIV and/or CD4 data reporting in Maryland, Oregon, Washington, and Philadelphia. Unique identifier systems have lower duplication rates than name-based reporting.