HIV Testing for The HIV-Exposed Infant
HIV Testing Schedule Confirmatory Testing HIV TESTING SCHEDULE Birth HIV-PCR HIV-PCR at age 10 weeks HIV-PCR at 6 months for all HIV-exposed infants Aligned with 6-month maternal HIV VL Universal 18 month rapid/ELISA for all children Whether exposed or un-exposed Aligned with 18-month maternal HIV VL Age-appropriate test at 6 weeks post-cessation of BF Age-appropriate test at any time if t
HIV TESTING SCHEDULE
- Birth HIV-PCR
- HIV-PCR at age 10 weeks
- HIV-PCR at 6 months for all HIV-exposed infants
- Aligned with 6-month maternal HIV VL
- Universal 18 month rapid/ELISA for all children
- Whether exposed or un-exposed
- Aligned with 18-month maternal HIV VL
- Age-appropriate test at 6 weeks post-cessation of BF
- Age-appropriate test at any time if the baby is unwell
CONFIRMATORY TESTING
Any child under two years with a positive HIV-PCR or a positive HIV rapid test should have their HIV status confirmed with a HIV-PCR test on a new sample. At the clinician’s discretion, the HIV-PCR may be replaced by a viral load test which has the advantage of both confirming the HIV diagnosis and providing a baseline VL for monitoring the child’s response to ART. Any child who tests HIV positive should initiate ART according to the Paediatric ART guideline as a matter of urgency. Do not wait for the confirmatory result before initiating ART but ensure that this result is checked. See ”Management of Indeterminate PCR results and the Abandoned Infant”
| AGE OF CHILD | HIV SCREENING TEST | HIV CONFIRMATORY TEST |
| Less than 18 months | PCR | PCR |
| 18 months to 2 years | Rapid | PCR |
| More than 2 years | Rapid | Rapid |
South African National Department of Health, Guideline for Vertical Transmission Prevention of Communicable Infections, Version 2_August 2023