Coverage of routine neonatal metabolic screening in children born to women known to be infected with HIV-1
Gibb, D.M.; Faulknall, W.; Nokes, L.; Appleby, S.; Holland, F.J.; Berry, T.; Ades, A.E.
Communicable Disease Report. Cdr Review 5(8): R123-R124
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 1350-9349 PMID: 7663606 Document Number: 453404
Unlinked anonymous HIV-1 testing of neonatal samples routinely collected for metabolic screening is now carried out in many parts of the United Kingdom. The purpose of this study was to assess the completeness of screening coverage in infants born to women known to be infected with HIV-1. Research nurses at family HIV clinics in three London hospitals searched for Guthrie cards from all infants born to known infected residents of North East, North West, and South West Thames regions over a 32 month period. If no card was found initially, mothers were approached for more information. Overall coverage was estimated to be 96.4% (94.6% in infants of African origin and 100% in white infants). These figures are similar to recent general population coverage estimates in inner London. We conclude that the anonymous newborn HIV testing programme is providing sufficiently accurate information on both absolute levels and time trends in maternal seroprevalence.