local
Family says urgent care failed to notify teen of positive HIV test later determined to be incorrect
By Ashli Lincoln at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· July 16, 2026
· 3 min read
A mother says an urgent care clinic never contacted her family after her teenage daughter’s HIV test came back positive, leaving the teen to discover the result on her online medical portal. The family later learned the test result was a false positive.The family asked Channel 2 Action News not t...
Key takeaway The family asked Channel 2 Action News not to identify them to protect the teen’s privacy.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The incident at Pickens Urgent Care raises concerns about the quality of care and patient communication in Atlanta 's urgent care facilities. The fact that the teen was left to discover a life-altering diagnosis on her online medical portal, without any follow-up or support from the clinic, is alarming. This case highlights the need for local healthcare providers to adhere to CDC guidelines for delivering sensitive test results and providing timely follow-up care. The family's experience also underscores the importance of patients advocating for themselves and seeking second opinions, as the mother did in this case. As the investigation into Pickens Urgent Care continues, Atlanta residents should be aware of their rights as patients and expect prompt, compassionate care from local healthcare providers. The city's health department and medical community should take note of this incident and review their protocols for handling sensitive test results and patient communication.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 16, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 3 min
Get more The Atlanta stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A mother says an urgent care clinic never contacted her family after her teenage daughter’s HIV test came back positive, leaving the teen to discover the result on her online medical portal. The family later learned the test result was a false positive.The family asked Channel 2 Action News not t...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 16, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Ashli Lincoln at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter