How long are positive test results kept on file?

How long are positive test results kept on file?

• A. Five years
• B. Indefinitely
• C. One year + current year
• D. Three years + current year

Answer: (C)

Retention of positive test results is about balancing the need to trace outcomes with privacy and storage considerations. The best choice keeps these results for one year plus the current year, meaning you retain them for the current calendar year and the previous year. That window provides enough time for follow-up actions, retests, and any required audits without holding data longer than necessary. Keeping results indefinitely would raise privacy concerns and unnecessary data accumulation, while extending retention to five years or three years plus the current year goes beyond what’s typically needed for routine QA and regulatory purposes. This two-year window aligns with practical record-keeping while staying mindful of data minimization.

Retention of positive test results is about balancing the need to trace outcomes with privacy and storage considerations. The best choice keeps these results for one year plus the current year, meaning you retain them for the current calendar year and the previous year. That window provides enough time for follow-up actions, retests, and any required audits without holding data longer than necessary. Keeping results indefinitely would raise privacy concerns and unnecessary data accumulation, while extending retention to five years or three years plus the current year goes beyond what’s typically needed for routine QA and regulatory purposes. This two-year window aligns with practical record-keeping while staying mindful of data minimization.