Do you have access to a PCR test there? This is a test for VIRUS rather
than ANTIBODY. This may be able to determine if her baby is already
infected with HIV within a few days after birth and would allow her to
consider choosing to breastfeed directly, since fresh mother's milk is
best for HIV positive babies because it contains living cells as well as
antibodies (the cells are killed by pasteurization).
--
Anne Montgomery, M.D., I.B.C.L.C.
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St.Peter Hospital Family Practice Residency
Olympia, WA