Is this mom testing positive for the virus or just the antibody to the virus?
 Some tests look for the actual virus, some for antibodies to a virus. This
is an important distinction.   Most labs test for the antibody.  If she's
retested and still tests positive, the test can be confirmed by a Western
Blot.

I have yet to hear of a woman testing positive for this, although our milk
bank screens all donors for HTLV-1.  If she really has the virus, it can be
transmitted through the breastmilk.  Chances are the Western Blot will be
negative.

Let us know what happens.

Elizabeth Puzar, IBCLC   San Jose,  California