Incidence of human immunodeficiency virus antibody in a prenatal population at a community hospital

Abstract

Prenatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening may reduce vertical HIV transmission. We screened 4,419 prenatal sera and found 38 repeatedly reactive specimens with an HIV-1-HIV-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis confirmed four of these specimens as positive for HIV-1 antibodies. Screening detects previously unidentified HIV infections, but false-positive results may also occur.