State mandated prenatal human immunodeficiency virus screening at a large community hospital

To describe the initial experience of state mandated prenatal HIV screening at a large community hospital.

HIV screening was provided to all pregnant women as of October 1, 1999. All HIV-positive women identified received aggressive antiretroviral therapy to reduce the likelihood for vertical transmission. Neonates were screened for HIV at zero, six, and 12 months of age.

Seven pregnant women (0.3%) and two additional family members tested positive for HIV. All seven infants born to the identified HIV-positive women have tested negative for infection. We estimated that six of nine cases of HIV infection identified would have been missed under a policy of voluntary HIV screening.

Universal screening for HIV in pregnancy is achievable and desirable and provides the best opportunity to minimize the number of new neonatal HIV infections.