Rapid HIV Testing
Rapid HIV Testing
In spite of impressive gains in reducing perinatal transmission in the United States, new infections persist. In late 2002, the FDA approved the rapid HIV test, thus allowing for preliminary diagnosis and treatment of HIV in labor.
Perinatal Rapid HIV Testing in Illinois
Illinois passed Public Act 93-566, called the Perinatal HIV Prevention Act, in August 2003. Most recently amended in 2007 as Public Law 95-702, it did the following:
-
Standardized and mandated counseling of all pregnant women
-
Required that HIV test results be documented in prenatal, labor and delivery, and newborn pediatric charts
-
Required that rapid tests be offered on labor and delivery to women without a documented HIV status
-
Required mandatory testing of newborns when the mother’s status is unknown at birth (June 2006 amendment)
-
Mandated that all preliminary positive rapid HIV tests on mothers and infants be reported to the 24/7 Illinois Perinatal HIV Hotline within 24 hours of birth to ensure medical consultation and linkage to case management (June 2006 amendment)
The Perinatal Rapid Testing Implementation Initiative in Illinois (PRTII2)
PRTII2, funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health, was created to assist hospitals in implementing rapid HIV testing in labor and delivery units, as stipulated by the new law. A regional coordinator is currently assigned to every hospital in the state to assist with the logistics of implementation.
For more information about Rapid Testing on Labor and Delivery in Illinois, please visit www.hivpregnancyhotline.org