Below is a release on a policy statement appearing in the November issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: November 3, 2008, 12:01 am (ET)

A new AAP policy statement continues to recommend HIV testing of all U.S. pregnant women, and if warranted, the immediate and ongoing administration of antiretroviral drugs to the mother during pregnancy and labor, and to the child immediately after birth, as the most effective steps to reducing the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission. The new policy, "HIV Testing and Prophylaxis to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission in the United States," also recommends repeat maternal testing in the third trimester in select circumstances and rapid HIV testing at labor and delivery as additional strategies to further reduce the rate of perinatal HIV transmission. The AAP policy recommends that information about HIV infection and transmission should be provided routinely as part of comprehensive maternal health care for women.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.