A method of ensuring the security of data from a medical test includes providing
the patient with a medical data card issued by a secure information provider, and
having a unique patient identification number (PID), a public key encryption private
key, and public key encryption public key (Key 2). The method further includes
a first test request card having an encrypted identification of the patient and
the test, a health care provider code, Key 2, and the test type that accompanies
the patient's test specimen to the secure information provider, a second test request
card bearing an encryption of the PID and the test type to forward with the patient's
specimen to a testing laboratory; a first test results card bearing an encryption
of the PID and the results; and a second test results card that may be read in
conjunction with the patient's medical data card.