13th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association 29 March–1 April 2007, Brighton, UK

AN AUDIT OF LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF HIV-1 INFECTION IN INFANTS BORN TO HIV-1 POSITIVE MOTHERS IN THE UK

HIV Med 2007; 8(Suppl. 1):2 (abstract no. O5)

Jennifer Tosswill¹, Deenan Pillay¹, Mark Zuckerman², Janet Masters³, Pat Tookey³ and John Parry^1
1Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK, ²HPA London/ King’s College Hospital, London, UK, ³Institute of Child Health, London, UK

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To determine the age at, and optimal laboratory method for, diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in infants born to infected mothers.

METHODS: A total of 11,875 blood samples from 4029 infants born between 2000 and 2005 to HIV-1-positive mothers were tested for HIV antibodies, HIV proviral DNA and p24 antigen.

RESULTS: A total of 216 infants were identified as infected with HIV-1. Of these, 92 had been tested at <1 year of age, and sequential results on this subset were analysed. Proviral DNA was detected in 18 of the 32 (56%) neonates tested within 2 days post partum. In three infants subsequently identified as infected, proviral DNA was not detected when they were tested at about three months of age or later. p24 antigen was detected in only 22% of the 92 infected infants, and never in the absence of amplifiable DNA.

CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION: Amongst those subsequently found to be HIV-1-infected, proviral DNA was detected in over half of the infants tested within 2 days post partum. In three infants HIV infection had not been detected by 3 months of age or later. Follow-up beyond this age is important, particularly in those who may be at risk through breast feeding. p24 antigen detection is not recommended as a screening assay.

2007-03-29
O5

Copyright © 2007 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD