Newborn seroprevalence study: methods and results

For the 28-month period, November 30, 1987 through March 31, 1990, 653,117 blood specimens obtained on all newborn infants in New York State for detection of metabolic disorders were also analyzed for HIV serologic status. The overall seroprevalence rate was 0.66 percent: 1.24 percent in New York City and 0.17 percent in New York State exclusive of New York City. Rates of seropositivity were highest in the Bronx (1.72 percent) and Manhattan (1.59 percent). Outside of New York City, HIV seropositivity was concentrated in certain areas. Sixty-four zip codes with two or more seropositives and an HIV seroprevalence rate twice the average outside of New York City contained 65 percent of the HIV seropositives but only 16 percent of the newborns tested. Newborn seropositivity increased with maternal age. In New York City, the seroprevalence rates increased from 0.16 percent (1 in 624) for 14-year-olds to 1.41 percent (1 in 71) for 24-year-olds, a ninefold rise. This survey has provided the impetus for a number of preventive initiatives.