HIV test trial for pregnant women proposed

4.30pm

An HIV test could become a regular part of the antenatal check-list under a proposed trial to offer it to pregnant women to reduce the chances of the virus being passed unwittingly on to babies.

Last year five children were diagnosed with HIV passed on by their mothers, the most ever recorded in New Zealand. Three have been diagnosed so far this year.

In a report to the Minister of Health released today, the National Health Committee recommended a pilot study be done in Auckland, offering an optional HIV test to all pregnant women.

Under the current system, only mothers judged to be at risk of having the HIV virus are tested.

The chance of HIV passing from mother to baby was reduced from 31.5 per cent to 2 per cent by early use of antiretroviral drugs, a caesarean delivery and avoiding breast feeding.

Babies were usually infected at delivery or through breast feeding.

However, the committee said New Zealand's low rate of HIV meant it was not appropriate to introduce a potentially costly scheme of offering all pregnant women the test until the costs were known and how widely it would be accepted by parents.

With national testing, the NHC estimated HIV would be detected in an additional 4 to 18 women each year, preventing HIV passing on to one to four babies.

Auckland was an appropriate place for the pilot because it had a higher incidence of HIV and more migrants from high-risk Asian and African countries.

The issue has been debated by health professionals for several years, with split opinions on whether screening mothers was enough or if the more costly process of testing all mothers was required.

Last year, the Aids epidemiology group at Otago University pushed for voluntary testing to be offered to every pregnant woman. Nigel Dickson, a researcher, said it could stop five new born babies being infected over a three year period.

The Royal Australian and NZ College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommended HIV testing be offered at the first screen.

- HERALD STAFF