How are children affected by HIV Testing?
A Child may be suspected of having HIV infection if the Child is born to a woman who is known to be HIV positive or if the Child becomes ill. However, it is difficult to understand HIV tests in children under the age of 15-18 months. Standard HIV tests detect antibodies to HIV. Children born to HIV positive women have HIV antibodies from their mother in their blood until this age. These are called maternal antibodies. In a very few cases, these maternal antibodies are found in the blood of children aged more than 18 months. It is possible to detect HIV directly. However, these tests are very expensive and not widely available in developing countries. One of the tests used is the HIV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the United States, children born to HIV positive mothers receive PCR tests at birth and again at 1-2 months and at 4-6 months. Two positive tests are taken as evidence of HIV infection. Two negative tests are evidence that the Child does not have HIV infection. This c
