SCREENING FOR HIV-INFECTION IN PREGNANCY

Antenatal HIV screening policies throughout the British Isles were sur veyed and results linked to data on HIV-infected pregnant women notifi ed through the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Unit s offering HIV testing to all pregnant women were compared with those offering it only to women considered to be at risk, and in both situat ions fewer than 50% of infected women were identified as HIV infected for the first time in antenatal clinics. Based on laboratory reports o f HIV infection in women of childbearing age, paediatric reports of ch ildren born to HIV positive women and unlinked anonymous neonatal scre ening programmes, there was evidence of under-recognition of HIV infec tion in pregnancy, particularly in England and Wales.