Question
How many tests are needed to know if a baby is negative?
17 October 2016. Related: All topics, Children, Other tests, Pregnancy.
Answer
Hi
This is likely to be different in different countries and also depending on the risk to the baby
In the UK the baby is tested at birth, 6 weeks and 12 weeks using a test similar to viral load. The test name is HIV DNA PCR. If these tests are negative and the baby has not further risk, then the baby does not have HIV.
HIV antibody tests are not used because a baby keeps the mother’s antibodies for the first 18-24 months. So testing positive using an antibody test doesn’t mean anything until 18 to 24 months old.
Please ask your doctor about how this is tested in your country.
hi how many test should be taken of a child to know that she is still HIV negative
Hi Limise, no you should not be worried. As baby has already tested negative and you have not been breastfeeding there is no further risk of transmission. This second test is used as a confirmation of status but as baby has not been exposed to HIV since their previous test, you do not need to be worried.
Hi my baby tested negative at birth and at 20 weeks,I never breastfed I only gave him formula since birth,so now he is going to test on 6 months should I be worried?
Hi Mbali, congratulations on having a baby. As you are on treatment with a very low viral load the risk to baby is already very small. Is baby now being fed with breastmilk or formula? It is great that baby has already tested negative, after 6 weeks the risk reduces significantly and nvp would no longer be needed anyway.
Hi. I’m HIV positive but my viral load is 58. Im a young mom so I knew nothing about nvp so I didn’t feed my baby the medication.My baby’s results for 6 weeks came out negative. And I stopped feeding him solid food. Should I be worried that the results will come out positive for 12 weeks
Hi Prudence, it is great that you started taking ARVs when you did. It is very likely that your baby will stay HIV negative. Many women all over their world find out their HIV status later than you and go on to have healthy HIV negative babies.
Now that you have started your baby on formula, can I check that you are not breastfeeding? Mixed feeding does increase the risk of transmission. Also, even though that baby is being formula fed, are you still giving them any medication that was given for them when they were born?