Diagnosing Newborns For Hiv

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Pregnancy and HIV

If you have HIV and you are pregnant, or if you want to become pregnant, talk with your health care provider about your options for taking care of yourself and reducing the risk of HIV infection or birth defects for your new child. The Bottom Line An HIV-infected woman who becomes pregnant needs to think about her own health and the health of her new child. Pregnancy may actually improve the health of the mother. The risk of transmitting HIV...

Ask the Experts

newborn testing for hiv

My husband and I are in the process of adopting internationally. A waiting child has become available. She is approx 4 months at this time. Mother is hiv positive but the baby tested negative. They tested her x2 with dna pcr. How accurate is...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,HIV DNA PCR is the preferred virologic method for diagnosing HIV during infancy. Clinical studies have shown that by age 28 days, HIV DNA PCR is 96% sensitive and 99% specific for identifying HIV proviral DNA. When two HIV DNA PCR assays are... Read more »

life span of hiv newborn accorging to NPHRC

In an article from NPHRC named Infants,children & Hiv (just the facts,nov 99),It was mentioned that about 20 of children born with the hiv virus are slow progressors and will not be showing symtoms through 9 years of age without medication.In...

Response from Katherine Luzuriaga, M.D.

University of Massachusetts, Medical School

Without therapy, about 20% of HIV-infected babies developed an AIDS-defining condition prior to 2 years of age. Only about 5% of HIV-infected children reach their teen years without any apparent sequellae of HIV infection. The remaining 75% develop... Read more »

Poz Uncle Wants to See Sisters Newborn

My sister gave birth april 2000. I was diagnosed february 2000 with cd4 104 and vl 62,000 and hospitalized with pcp and on ventilator in intensive care for almost 8 days. My parents know of situation however my sister, brother in law and newborn...

Response from Brooks Jackson, M.D.

Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

Given your undetectable viral load, CD4 count of 474 (which is almost normal), and absence of clinical symptoms, I do not think that you pose a greater threat of infection to this infant than any other non-HIV infected person. Obviously if you... Read more »

detecting aids in newborn

is there anyway to dectect aids in newborn how early before signs appear in child are any signs of aids at birth if parents havent been tested and dont no if they are infected...

Response from Judith A. Aberg, M.D.

Washington University, St. Louis School of Medicine

There are definitely HIV tests that can be done on a newborn if one suspects HIV or AIDS. BUT, there really should be no reason for the mother not to get tested. Although, HIV testing for mothers is not mandatory, I personally have a very hard time... Read more »

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Do all newborns in us get tested for Hiv?

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

Do they automatically test newborns for hiv in the us? Read more »

TRANSMITTING HIV TO NEWBORN TWINS/NEED ADVISE?????

Posted by Jessie, 3 Replies

I recently had my husband come to me, upset, crying and concerned about his brothers two newborn twins and the fact that me and my husband are both HIV+. Apparently, the brother confronted my husband about being with the newborns and washing his... Read more »

Has anyone been diagnosed with HIV-2?

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

HIV TYPE 2: Has anyone here been diagnosed with HIV-2 (type 2)?
Currently in the US we only test for HIV-1. HIV-2 is a weaker
strain common in Africa but not the U.S. Now that I have a friend
in the U.S. with this, we are having a difficult time... Read more »

i was diagnosed hiv+...

Posted by Anonymous

I was diagnosed HIV+ on April 3, 1996 - the day after my 36th
birthday. I was initially told by the diagnosing Dr. to do
nothing for six-months while my t-cell count "leveled". Although,
emotionally baked at the time, the thought of such a course of Read more »

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