My name is Jacqueline Irion, I am a student from the University of North Dakota. I have several questions relating to breastmilk storage safety and the HIV/AIDS virus. As we know, breastmilk can carry the HIV/AIDS virus. According to MeriLou Johnson (1997) there are three forms of vertical transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus: in utero through the placental barrier, during labor and delivery when the neonate is exposed to maternal body fluids, and through the ingestion of infected breastmilk. Kearney and Cronenwett (1991) also found that the number of working mothers is on the rise. An estimated 59.7% of new mothers were breastfeeding in 1995. These pieces of information sparked me to investigate the safety of breastmilk storage in the workplace. I have found that in rural communities mothers at work often pump their milk but fail to label their storage bottles. The problem I would like to have addressed is the possible danger of an HIV positive mother (who may have contracted the disease after the birth of her child and is unaware of the HIV infection) not labeling her milk. I believe this poses a problem if bottles were accidentally switched due to the lack of labeling. The possibility of someone else's child contracting HIV/AIDS due to a lack of labeling would be possible, especially if the child had open sores in the mouth (such as teething). I feel breastfeeding is a crucial factor in the health rates of future generations. Dodgson and Duckett (1997) also stressed the importance of breastfeeding programs designed to provide support for breastfeeding mothers. I believe safety of breastmilk should be a crucial factor involved in the storage of breastmilk at business places and should be an integral part of breastfeeding programs in the workplace. Considering all the presented information, have any of you observed similar situations where mothers do not label breastmilk storage containers? Do you feel that mothers are given enough information relating to HIV/AIDS and the transmission of this disease through breastmilk? Additionally, does anyone feel that laws need to be passed to ensure the safety of breastmilk in all business places? I would appreciate your thoughts on this issue and any other information relating to this subject. Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to your replies. Sincerely, Jacqueline Irion Dodgson, J.E. (1997) Breastfeeding in the workplace: building a support program for nursing mothers. AAOHN, 45 (6), 290-298. Johnson, M. (1997) Vertical transmission of HIV infection. AIDS Newslink, 6 (1), 8-9. Kearney M. & Cronenwett, L. (1991) Breastfeeding and employment. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecological, and Neonatal Nursing, 20 (6), 471-480.