Why Test?
If there is any chance your child has been exposed to HIV, you need to think about having them tested. There are cases where children have been born with HIV, but do not show any signs or symptoms until they are in their teens. Not having your child tested could mean they suddenly fall seriously ill.
In 2008, a child of 10 died in intensive care because they had not been tested for HIV, even though both their parents were living with HIV. Health professionals really want to make sure that this can never happen again, so all children with a parent or parents living with HIV should be considered for HIV testing.
You may have been asked by someone to ‘provide evidence’ your child has been tested for HIV and had a negative result. This is because current guidance, which you can read here states that unless there is documented evidence of a negative HIV test, any child born to a mother who is living with HIV must be tested to rule out the possibility of the child having HIV. This is to ensure all possible risks are minimised and documented.
