The bills to require mandatory infant hiv testing in Florida have died in
both the Florida House and Senate committees.  I wanted to thank those of you who
took the time to write.  I have to believe that the emailing, phone calling,
and letter writing helped defeat these dual bills.  Mandatory hiv testing of
newborns not only calls into question our informed consent laws but also is
questionable because testing of newborns is still unreliable. Current standards
are for testing of infants by PCR to occur after the first month because
maternal antibodies circulating in the baby's bloodstream make tests unreliable in
the first month. Mandatory testing of newborns would have increased the risks
of healthy infants being misdiagnosed and treated with toxic drugs and infant
formula.  Thanks to all who took the time to write or phone.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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