WO2002089653A2

WO2002089653A2 - Process for hiv/infectious disease prevention through partner infection status compatibility

Info

Publication number: WO2002089653A2
Application number: PCT/AP2002/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abel Bulawayo
Original assignee: Abel Bulawayo
Priority date: 2001-04-11
Filing date: 2002-04-10
Publication date: 2002-11-14
Also published as: WO2002089653A3

Abstract

The spread of HIV/Infectious diseases can be effectively controlled by forging relationship based on HIV/Infection status compatibility between sexually intimate partners. However, many individuals are too traumatized to know their HIV/Infection status, leading to avoidance of separate pre-dating tests or co-tests between partners deciding on sexually intimate relationships. This leads to lack of managed HIV/Infection status compatibility, which means negative to negative infection relationships are only left to chance. This favours uncontrolled spread of infection especially in married relationships where need for conception poses constraints on protected sex. A process is described wherein individuals too scared to know their HIV/Infection results but desirous of reducing their chances of being infected, or infecting others, are voluntarily tested for infection. The test results are concealed from all, including both the test handlers and the test subjects, but the same are used for segregation of the individuals into HIV/Infection positive and negative dating zones. A means comprising concealed introduction of the infection status into a databased alongside the personality profile of the test subject and an information system network, are used to achieve a segregation and an infection status compatibility match making and daing.

Description

Process for HIV / Infections disease prevention through partner infection Status compatibility.

TECHNICAL FIELD

5 The invention relates to the creation of a process to segregate a population mass into HTV Infection negative and HTV Infection positive dating zones for the purpose of preventing HTV and other infectious diseases. It also suppresses through careful tracer trait selection the propagation of negative hereditary traits and conditions in the offspring of the resulting partnerships such as being asthmatic, albinism, cancer infections, and l o short sightedness. The process acts as a medium through which the infection negative will associate with and date the infection negative while the infection positive will associate with and date the infection positive without having to know their own HTV/Infection status. Subscribers who want to optimize the hereditary traits or conditions of their offspring will do so through a careful choice of their partners' traits. The process employs

15 HIV/Infection test results concealed on a machine only readable medium, tracer traits and attributes that are used to trace each subscriber's personality profile into a searchable code as well as an information system that is employed as a segregating, match making and dating interface.

20 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is neither cure nor vaccine for AIDS, believed to be caused by HTV which in turn is transmitted through some body fluids between humans, making the infection a mostly sexually transmitted disease. A lot of effort has been exerted to discourage pre-maritai sex, extra-marital sex or unprotected sex. Discouraging sex has had only very limited

25 success as sex is as basic a physical need as food, while protected sex, apart from not being 100 percent protective, has to be avoided where conception is to be achieved. In "System for controlling the spread of HTV/AIDS and other infectious diseases" Patent number W O 96/39980 (by ELMALEH David ) a good step is provided against the mere assumption and hope that the HTV/Infection negative will by mere chance meet with, date

30 and have an intimate relationship with an HTV/Infection negative partner. Individuals who wish to reduce their chances of being infected with HTV and other infectious diseases are i periodically tested for infection and the infection status stored in a confidential database. Two paiticipating individuals can access their status jointly to avoid the risk of nondisclosure. It therefore provides a means and interface where people desirous of reducing chances of cross-infection meet with their HTV/Infection status in hand. Prior to that it was difficult to get such like minded people to do pre-dating tests and go on to identify each other on the basis of their status. However in the absence of a cure, revelation of one's status is still too scary and traumatizing for many. Those who take tests are those already confident of being either negative or positive, leaving the doubting majority reluctant, and thus making redundant of efforts to encourage pre-dating or pre- intimacy HIV/Infection tests. Quite unhappily therefore, currently many young people painfully maintain their HTV negative status during a difficult adolescence period and under heavy peer pressure, only to lose it on their honeymoon and getting bed ridden six months later.

It is the objective of this invention to encourage people to take pre-dating HIV/Infection tests by concealing the status from both the test subjects and test handlers but use the same to assist them avoid cross infection through a dating information system that ensures that they partner only on infection status compatibility basis. It is also the objective of this invention to enable subscribers to rationalize the choice of their partners before they meet them through careful choice of tracer traits and thus not only improve their partner selection results but also optimize or suppress the propagation of certain traits or conditions in the ensuing offspring.

Brief Description Of The Diagrams FIG. 1; Illustrates two processes leading up to the identification of the desired HTV/Infection status compatible partner. On the left is a flow diagram showing the conversion of a personality into a code, the HTV/Infection input through the card thus making the code complete and acceptable for storage in the database. On the right is the creation of the search code (the personality profile of the partner being looked for), the entry of the HIV status of the searching subscriber completing the code, entry of the PIN number and the search. FIG. 2; Illustrates the process of untraceable fractional recording.

SUMMARY

Subscribers to the system are tested for infection. The results are not availed to anybody but are transcribed, using known concealed means, onto machine only readable medium magnetically pre-written "positive or "negative" according to the infection results together with a PIN so that the TITV Infection status is privy only to the information system. The subscriber's personality profile is then broken down into physical and social tracer traits. The same are used to build a personality profile code. For example, the personality profile code A1B1C2D3E1G2H2I3J2K1L2M2 may denote an HIV negative lady, 28-34 years old, tall, slim, very brown in complexion, 5 "O" levels to 1 "A" level academic achievement, of a teacher/nurse professional level, low net worth, of an indigenous Zimbabwean cultural outlook, highly sociable, Ndebele speaking and of a Bantu race. While the rest of the code is constructed by the subscriber, the HIV status element into the above code is communicated into the system by the status card and a PTN. The purpose of the PIN is only to authenticate the ownership of the status card and thus ensure that all subscribers are of the correct status. The full code is stored in the database.

The tracer traits above are also used by a searching subscriber to build a search code that reflects the personality of the desired partner being searched for. Again the infection status for the search code is communicated onto the code through the machine only readable status card of the searching partner, so that each subscriber can only access contact details of only infection status compatible subscribers. This way HTV/Infection positive will date only HIV/Infection positive and vice versa, without anybody having to know weather one is infection negative or infection positive. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Concealed Copying of HIV/Infection Statns From Snbscriber Onto Plastic Computer Card

Two types of seemingly similar plastic computer cards are availed. On each card type will 5 be magnetically written "Positive" or "Negative" together with a personal identification number (PIN). The function of the secrete PIN number is to ensure that the ownership of the card and therefore the HTV/Infection status is authentic. The only "Negative" or "Positive " marks that are human readable are on the cover of the card stacks with everything else on the cards inside the pack looking seemingly identical. As a way of l o precaution to ensure against the cards mixing, the two card batches are kept parceled and sealed until just before test number allocation onto the cards according to test results. Forms are also supplied with serial numbers on. The serial numbers are then used as test numbers during the test process. Subscribers fill in the forms indicating their personal details. Blood samples are then taken and labeled with the test numbers -that is, the serial

15 numbers from the forms. When the results are out they are listed against their respective test numbers. The card parcels are then opened and a test number is stuck to a number from a respective card stack depending on the HIV Infection result recorded against it

Once a batch of test numbers has been applied to their respective HTV/Infection status 20 cards the cards are then mixed to form one batch so that it is not possible to tell which card carries positive or negative infection result This use of test numbers is similar to the examination number system where script markers (in this case test handlers) are blocked from knowing the owners of the examination scripts. This is to ensure that the HTV/Infection status is known only to the status card and the machine that can read it. 25 Finally the test numbers are replaced with the respective names printed onto the cards.

Concealed Copying of the PIN from the Card

The last operation in the creation of the HIV/Infection status card is the concealed copying of the PIN magnetically written on the card for onward transmission to the

30 subscriber. The card is fed into a magnetic reader and printer, which reads the PIN from the card and prints it, using inkless characters, into a sealed envelop containing carbon paper inside. Thus the PTN is copied from a machine only readable card into a sealed envelope. The name and address of the subscriber is then typed onto the envelope and posted to the subscriber. All precautions are taken to ensure that both the card and the PIN reach the right subscriber.

Copying Of Personality Profile Into Database

The personality profile of each subscriber is broken down into physical and social tracer traits and attributes as guided by the appended illustrative tracer trait guide sheet (Table 1). The subscriber will then rate themselves on each tracer trait e.g.age, sex, height, complexion, etc with the assistance of a helper and appropriate tools.

The rating on each tracer trait is used to trace out and build a personality profile code that will not only record greater details of the subscriber but will also occupy less storage space as well as provide precision of description of each subscriber. The code is not however complete and acceptable for storage in the database unless it is prefixed or suffixed by the appropriate HTV/Infection status which at this stage is only "resident" on and machine readable from the computer card.

To complete the personality profile code and successfully encode it into the database the computer card is slotted into the terminal and the PIN entered by the subscriber. At that point the system will recognize the authenticity of the ownership of the card through the PIN, read from the card the HIV/Infection status and transfer it onto the code as a prefix. The complete code is then saved in the database.

The contact details of the subscriber are then entered alongside the personality profile code. The personality profile of each subscriber is retraced after prescribed intervals to provide for ageing and other shifting traits and attributes while the HIV/Infection status are updated at shorter prescribed intervals. Without the personality profile retracing and the HIV/Infection status consistency tests at the prescribed intervals the personality profile code will become stale and cease to be accessible while the infection status card expires. Guided Partner Selection And Access The same tracer traits on the illustrative tracer trait guide sheet (Table 1) are used as a guide to build up search codes. These are codes tracing out the personality profile of the desired partner, tracer trait by tracer trait, and attribute by attribute, according to personal preference. The subscriber will rate the desired partner on a prescribed scale on each tracer trait or attribute.

Once this has been done again the searcher's HTV/Infection status card will be slotted into the terminal and a PTN entered by the searching subscriber. Upon confirmation of the authenticity of the ownership, the HTV/Infection, status card, the system will read the HIV/Infection status from the card and use it to prefix the search code (the personality profile code of the partner being sought) and make it more complete and acceptable as a search guide. This way the holder of an HIV/Infection status card will be guided towards a partner of their own described choice and of the same HTV/Infection status. The information system, guided by the search code, will search through the database for a code most similar to the search code. It then selects, at random one or more personality profiles, depending on the required "order quantity", and print out the contact details at the terminal of service for the benefit of the searching partner.

At its information center the system will also print out a prescribed letter and post it off to the holder of the personality profile code so accessed to officially confirm the authenticity of the access. Subscribers are advised not to accept proposal efforts until they receive such a confirmation letter. The process also further advises that should the two dating partners agree on an intimate relationship compatibility confirmation tests be undertaken to confirm that compatibility as per database personality profile codes has thus far been maintained.

Best Method A database with hundreds of thousands of record capacity is installed. A massive public education program to encourage en masse participation is conducted as a precursor. Private user terminals are hooked onto the database to form a network. Public user terminals are also planted at points in the geographic area to cater for subscribers who do not own, operate, or have access to private terminals. Subscribers are then tested for HW Infection at various testing centers and results transcribed onto computer cards using known concealed methods and art such as untraceable fractional recording. As illustrated in fig. 2, the subscriber's name is first recorded alongside a test number .The name is then dropped and the test number used to label the blood specimen. Once the results are out they are recorded against the test numbers and then dropped and replaced with an appropriate status card that is machine only readable. The different status cards are then mixed to destroy trace of status. The test number is then dropped from the card in favour of the name. This way total concealment of results from both test handlers and test subjects is achieved. As illustrated in Fig. 1 subscribers at various terminals or workstations enter or cause to be entered, into the database, codes built of their tracer traits and closely reflective of their personality profiles while their HTV/Infection is entered through their status cards and a PIN. Once a certain critical number of subscribers has been stored in the database with all the critical infections and conditions, known through tracer traits and attributes or unknown through the status card, searching and accessing for partners can then begin. One can passively wait to be accessed and contacted or actively initiate the search for a suitable HTV/Infection compatible partner. This is very much similar to an employment agency holding, in a database, a large number of curriculum vitae, job descriptions, and a system that can search and match curriculum vitae to job descriptions without the influence of human intervention.

The search, as on the right side of Fig 1, starts with the construction of the personality profile code of the desired partner. The code is entered, the card slotted and the PIN entered to confirm the authenticity of the ownership of the card. Upon that confirmation the system reads the HIV/Infection status from the card and adds it onto the rest of the personality code to make it acceptable as a search code. The search is then triggered, following the decision table process as illustrated by asterisks in table 1, from tracer trait to tracer trait, tracing the personality profile of the desired partner according to the search guide. Once the code has been successfully identified, only the contact details of the subscriber so accessed are revealed at the terminal of service for the benefit of the searching subscriber. The system also automatically prints a prescribed letter at the system center which is posted to the subscriber so accessed to confirm that the access is official and authentic.

Once the aspect of HTV/Infection has successfully been taken care of, the subscribers on the public terminals can use the more traditional means such as postal services, telephone, etc to connect up with their HTV/Infection status compatible associates. Parallel to that, private terminal users on the net can be more elaborate by taking advantage of Patent Number US 6023729 "Method And Apparatus for Match Making" by Samuel et al, to fine tune their match making and even play games before they have to meet physically.

This involves the matching of network users and computers associated with multi-user applications. A match maker application resides on one or more server computers controlling the process of collecting clients into matched sets or client groups based on a wide range of traits and attributes, software, hardware and connectivity. Match making hiformation is presented to users on an understandable manner using icons, graphical images, etc.

Example 1; Guided Partner Tracing And Selection

The tracer trait guide sheet (Table 1) leads subscribers through the various applicable tracer traits that ensure that the major aspects of a given personality profile have been captured in the code constructed. The search flow indicated by asterisks in the table is one for an HIV negative lady, 28-34 years old, very brown in complexion, and five "O" levels to one "A" level academic achievement. She is of a teacher/nurse professional level, low net worth, of an indigenous Zimbabwean cultural outlook, highly sociable, Ndebele speaking and of the Bantu race. Her full personality profile code and as described by the search code is A1B1C2D3E1F3G2H2I3J2K1L2M2.

We now trace out the code as indicated by asterisks on the tracer trait guide sheet (Table 1), adding the incremental descriptive details at every stage of the decision table until finally we achieve the full description of the desired partner. Al ; All people who are HIV negative are identified.

A1B1; All women who are HIV negative are identified. A1B1C2: Identifies all women who are HIV negative and 28-34 years old. A1B1C2D3; Identifies all women who are HTV negative , 28-34 years old and tall. A1B1C2D3E1; Identifies all women who are HTV negative, 28-34 years old, tall and slim. A1B1C2D3E1F3; Identifies all women who are HIV negative, 28-34 years old, tall, slim, and very brown in complexion.

AIB1C2D3E1F3G2; Identifies all women who are HIV negative, 28-34 years old, tall, slim, very brown in complexion and of 5" " levels to 1 "A" level academic achievement A1B1C2D3E1F3G2H2; Identifies all HTV negative women 28-34 years old, tall, slim, very brown in complexion, 5 "O" levels to 1 "A" level academic achievement and of a nurse/teacher professional level.

A1B1C2D3E1F3G2H2D; Identifies all HTV negative women, 28-34 years old, tall, slim, very brown in complexion, with 5 "O" levels to 1 "A" level, of a nurse/teacher professional level and of a low net worth. A1B1C2D3E1F3G2H2I3J2. Identifies all HIV negative women, 28-34 years old, tall, slim, very brown in complexion, 5"O" level to 1"A" level, of a teacher/nurse professional level, alow net worth, and of an indigenous Zimbabwean outlook. A1B1DC2D3E1F3G2H2I3J2K1; Identifies all HTV negative women, 28-34 years old, tall, slim, very brown in complexion, 5 "O" levels to 1 "A" level, of a teacher/nurse professional level, a low net worth, indigenous Zimbabwean cultural outlook and highly sociable.

A1B1C2D3E1F3G2H2BJ2K1L2; Identifies all HIV negative women, 28-34 years old, tall, slim, very brown in complexion 5 "O" level to 1 "A" level, of a teacher/nurse professional level, a low net worth, an indigenous Zimbabwean cultural outlook, highly sociable and Ndebele speaking. A1B1C2D3E1F3G2H2I3J2K1L2M2; Identifies all HTV negative women 28-34 years old, tall, slim, very brown in complexion, 5 "O" levels to 1"A" level, of a teacher/nurse professional level, a low net worth, an indigenous Zimbabwean cultural outlook, highly sociable, Ndebele speaking and of the Bantu race. It will be evident to those skilled in the art of information handling in general, and programming in particular, that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative examples of information collection, storage, access and service delivery, and that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof The foregoing embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. Reference has always to be made both to the foregoing descriptions, examples and appended claims.

All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the descriptions, examples and claims are therefore intended to be embraced therehx

TABLE 1 .TRACER TRAIT GUIDE SHEET

Claims

1. A process wherein individuals in a population mass are voluntarily tested for HTV and other infectious diseases without revelation of results to the test subjects, test handlers or any other human being, wherein the tested individual's HIV status is stored

5 and concealed on a machine only readable medium other than human readable or detectable medium from which it is machine read and transcribed into a database to become part of the individual's other personal details wherein the card reading information system does not reveal the HIV/Infection status but uses the same only as a key in the individual's personality profile code to direct the code into the correct o status zone for the purpose of storage, searching, matchmaking, selection and dating based on infection status compatibility and thus prevent the spread of HTV and other infectious diseases.

2. A process according to claim 1 in which the transcription of the HTV/Infection status onto the machine only readable is fractional and untraceable.

5 3. A process according to claims 1 and 2 in which the personality tracer traits and attributes are used and each rated to build an information code or file that is reflective of the subscriber's personality profile or a search code that is reflective of the personality profile being searched for, for the purpose of recording and storing, tracing, match making, and accessing the personality profile of each individual.

£0 4. A process according to claims 1 to 3 in which pictorial, photographic, vocal, sonic or documentary means is used as a means of capturing personality profiles and storing them as a population for the purpose of infection status compatibility match making.

5. A process according to claims 1 to 4 in which machine only readable card or some other similar means of concealed communication of the HTV/Infection status into the

.5 system's database is used to input the HIV/Infection status into the personality code for storage in or search from the database.

6. A process according to claims 1 to 5 in which the HIV/Infection status is communicated only to the information system.

0 A process according to claims 1 to 6 in which the search code or personality profile code is complete and acceptable as a search code or for storage purposes respectively, only after an element of HTV/Infection status has been added as part of the code.