Pretoria pasteurisation: A potential method for the reduction of postnatalmother to child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus

HIV can be transmitted by breastfeeding. The virus is inactivated by heatin g. A simple and inexpensive method has been devised by which expressed brea stmilk may be pasteurised in a domestic setting, The method uses the princi ple of heat transfer from 450ml of water heated to boiling point in an alum inum pot to a smaller volume of milk in a glass jar placed into the water ( Pretoria Pasteurisation), The aim of this study was to test the reliability of Pretoria Pasteurisation under a range of conditions. Pretoria Pasteuris ation was performed using differing starting values for each of the followi ng parameters: volume of milk (between 50 and 150 mi); initial temperature of milk (between 37 degrees C and the ambient temperature); and ambient tem perature, Each of the parameters was varied within the range indicated whil e all other conditions were kept constant. A graph of milk and water temper ature against time was constructed with 95% confidence intervals. The ideal temperature range was considered to be between 56 and 62.5 degrees C, Milk temperature remained between 56 and 62.5 degrees C for between 10 and 15 m in depending on the combination of variables. The peak temperature and dura tion of time in the ideal temperature range was minimally sensitive to volu me of milk, starting temperature of milk, and ambient temperature. Pretoria Pasteurisation is feasible and reliable under a range of conditions. The m ethod requires refinement and further testing under different conditions.