The CDC web site
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/abc/policies8.htm  states:

"Chemicals present in breast milk act, together with time and cold
temperatures, to destroy the HIV present in expressed breast milk. "

I am not writing to panic the mother - the best way for her to sleep at
night is to find out who is the "unwilling donor" (the center should know
whose milk they mis-used) and have her tested.  The chances, I believe, are
truly infinitessimal...but as someone who was just reassured with
statistics for a personal health issue, I can truly understand her concern.
 She is NOT a "rate" she is a singular individual.

However, I still must refer those on Lactnet to a small study (17 samples)
we did in Puerto Rico:
 
"Effects of Lipolysis or Heat Treatment on HIV-1 Provirus in Breast Milk" 
Caroline Chantry, Pamela Morrison, et al

Published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes,(August 1,
2000) 34:325-329 copyright Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Inc.
Philadelphia.

Under conclusions:  "This preliminary evidence suggests that inherent
lipolytic activity [for a period of 6 hours] of fresh breast milk is
inadequate for destruction of HIV-1; bringing breast milk to a boil may
result in decreased HIV-1 infectivity; and breast milk cell-associated
HIV-1 may not reflect plasma viral load.  Nutritional value or possible
bacterial contamination of milk treated in this manner (boiling) was not
assessed."

Many more studies are being done and need to be done.  But reassuring a mom
that just because the milk has lypolytic capacity means that it will be
safe from HIV appears to be  inaccurate.

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html