Is the Birth PCR Still Necessary for HIV Exposed Newborns?

Abstract

In 2009 the Unites States Public Health Service (US-PHS) changed its recommendations for diagnostic testing of HIV exposed infants. However, barriers for compliance to testing remain. We evaluated the compliance with the 2009 USPHS recommendation at our center. A total of 244 HIV exposed infants were identified from 2009 to 2012. HIV DNA PCR was done in less than 48 hours of life in 216 (90.7%) infants, bet-ween 14-21 days in 143 (60.1%). We believe it remains important to perform HIV testing at birth especially when testing at 14 to 21 days of life cannot be assured. regimen during pregnancy, cesarean deliveries when appropriate, avoidance of breast feeding, use of antiretroviral medication during labor and delivery and in the neonate in the first six weeks of life.¹ Despite these recommendations, barriers to prevention of MTCT still exist.² It is important to follow the protocol for determination of HIV status in HIV exposed infants in order to determine as soon as possible if the infant is infected or uninfected.

      This study aims to evaluate the compliance to most recent 2009 United Public Health Service (US-PHS) recommendations for diagnostic testing infants born to HIV infected mothers.