Review Article

Management of HIV Infection during Pregnancy in the United States: Updated Evidence-Based Recommendations and Future Potential Practices

Table 1

Testing modalities for diagnosing HIV in pregnancy.

HIV testsWhat they test forWindow periodAvailable resultsSensitivitySpecificity

ELISAHIV antibodies3 Months2 days–2 weeks>99%>98%
Antigen test (p24)P24 viral proteins11 days–1 month2 days–1 week90%100%
4th generation testsAntibodies and p2411 days–1 month2 days–2 weeks>99.7%>99.3%
PCR/NAAT testsGenetic material of HIV12 days2 days–1 week>99%>99%
Rapid testAntibodies3 MonthsWithin 20 minutes>99%>98%

AIDSinfo. Recommendations for use of antiretroviral drugs in pregnant HIV-1-infected women for maternal health and interventions to reduce perinatal HIV transmission in the United States. HHS panel on treatment of HIV-infected pregnant women and prevention of perinatal transmission, a working group of the office of AIDS research advisory council (OARAC), 2015, http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines.