TABLE 3.

Time points for routine HIV testing in HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed children.

Timing and type of HIV test	HIV-exposed infants	HIV-unexposed infants
HIV PCR test at birth	x	-
HIV PCR test at age 10 weeks	x	-
HIV PCR test at age six months (offer HIV testing for documented HIV negative mothers or mothers with unknown HIV status)	x	-
Age-appropriate HIV test at six weeks post-cessation of breastfeeding	x	-
HIV antibody test at age 18 months (rapid test or HIV ELISA) (universal testing)	x	x
Age-appropriate HIV test at anytime the child is unwell	x	x
If any HIV test is positive, the diagnosis is confirmed with a repeat HIV test (see guidelines below in Table 4) , and ART is initiated immediately.	x	x

ART, antiretroviral therapy; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; VL, viral load.