The rapid diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in mothers in Puerto Rico: a crucial testing strategy for maximal reduction of perinatal transmission

RESUMO

This study was designed to evaluate early post partum rapid HIV testing of infants as surrogates for their mothers. In a screening of 971 infants whose mother's HIV-1 status was not known at delivery, 22 (= 2.26) were found positive for antibodies by ELISA. Five were new cases and two (40) were from transmitting mothers. This is in contrast with the UPR Women and Infants Transmission Study (UPR WITS) in which of 186 HIV-1 infected mothers none were transmitters. These were selected among thousands screened for anti-HIV-1 antibodies over a period of almost 5 years studied (September, 1996 through August, 2001). These results clearly indicate that all mothers at delivery should have a rapid test to determine their HIV-1 status to allow in the positive cases rapid intervention strategies to prevent perinatal transmission.