Rapid HIV Testing

In spite of impressive gains in reducing perinatal transmission in the United States, new infections persist. In late 2002, the FDA approved the rapid HIV test allowing for preliminary diagnosis and treatment of HIV in labor.

Perinatal Rapid HIV Testing in Illinois

Illinois passed Public Act 93-566, called the Perinatal HIV Prevention Act, in August 2003. It was amended in 2007 as Public Law 95-702.  The Act mandates the following:

• Standardized and mandated counseling of all pregnant women
• Required that HIV test results be documented in prenatal, labor and delivery, and newborn pediatric charts
• Required that rapid tests be offered on labor and delivery to women without a documented HIV status
• Required mandatory testing of newborns when the mother’s status is unknown at birth (June 2006 amendment)
• Mandated that all preliminary positive rapid HIV tests on mothers and infants be reported to the 24/7 Illinois Perinatal HIV Hotline 1-800-439-4079 within 24 hours of birth to ensure medical consultation and linkage to case management (June 2006 amendment)

For more information, visit the Act section of this site.

The Perinatal Rapid Testing Implementation Initiative in Illinois (PRTII²)

PRTII², funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health, was created to assist hospitals in implementing rapid HIV testing in labor and delivery units as stipulated by the new law. A regional coordinator is currently assigned to every hospital in the state to assist with the logistics of implementation.

In this section of the site you will find:

• Rapid HIV Testing FAQ
• Forms for Reporting a Preliminary Positive Rapid HIV Test
• Forms for Monthly Perinatal HIV Reporting
• Rapid Testing Implementation Resources
• Expedited Western Blot Test Information

For more information about rapid HIV testing in Illinois or to contact your Regional Coordinator, contact PRTII² at info@hivpregnancyhotline.org.

This page was last updated on the 10th of September, 2008