HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). At least 90-95% of individuals who are infected with the HIV virus will, within three months of exposure, develop enough antibodies to have a positive HIV test; over 99% of HIV infected individuals will have a positive test within six months. If a pregnant woman is infected with the HIV virus, it can be passed to and infect her baby.

The HIV test detects antibodies to HIV in the blood. Although a positive HIV test could mean a woman is infected with HIV, the test may also be positive for other reasons. The laboratory will automatically perform additional testing to determine conclusively if there is an HIV infection. If a woman’s confirmatory tests indicate an HIV infection, she will want to consult with her doctor about the risks of infecting a baby and the affects of the pregnancy on her health prior to becoming pregnant. While a pregnant woman with an HIV infection does have the virus present in her body and can infect others, treatments given during pregnancy can help minimize the chance of passing the HIV infection to her baby.

A negative test for the antibody to HIV may mean that there is no infection or that a sufficient amount of the antibody has not yet been produced to be detected. If a woman participates in high risk activities that may transmit HIV, such as unprotected sexual contact or intravenous drug use, it is recommended that she be retested one or more additional times during the pregnancy.

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Conditions: HIV
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