How should HIV testing be done?
HIV testing should be voluntary, and providers should carefully document informed consent. Providers should offer pre- and post-test counseling that includes information on modes of transmission of the virus, risk factors that might be present even if a woman has only one sex partner, and effective interventions to reduce the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV. There should be a discussion of services available for the provision of medical care, and the woman should be reassured that care for her and her infant will not be denied if she declines the test. Laws and regulations on HIV screening of pregnant women and their infants vary by State. Therefore, providers should be familiar with the State regulations and policies that apply to them (CDC, 2001). When does transmission from mother to infant occur and what are risk factors for transmission? Vertical transmission can occur during the perinatal period and infancy, that is, before or close to the time of birth or during breastfeed
