title: Remembering the Children: Implementation and Success of a Robust Method for Identifying and Testing Children of HIV Patients.
abstract: Background. Children of HIV patients are a historically neglected demographic by HIV services. It has been recommended by CHIVA that HIV services have a robust method of detecting and testing untested children. We note that no such method is either in widespread use or in the literature. Method. In December 2011, a one-page proforma to identify HIV untested children and a clear multidisciplinary pathway to test them were implemented. Twelve months later the uptake of the proforma and pathway, the numbers of patients and children identified for testing, and their outcomes were audited. Results. The proforma was completed in 192/203 (94.6%) eligible patients. Twenty-five (21.5%) of 118 identified offspring had not been tested. Ten (8.5%) of these were <18 years old. All were reported to be clinically well. Ten children were referred for testing, seven were tested immediately, and three were tested within 18 months of identification. All children were tested HIV negative. Discussion. We have identified a method of identification that is easy and robust and provides a user-friendly safety net to empower healthcare providers to identify and test children at risk. We recommend the implementation of such strategies nationwide to prevent death due to undiagnosed HIV in children.
authors: York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Mongate Health Center, 31 Monkgate, York YO31 7WA, UK ; Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, HYMS, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
authors: Christopher
authors: 0000-0002-5400-3413
authors: C
authors: Darlow
authors: York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Mongate Health Center, 31 Monkgate, York YO31 7WA, UK.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Tovey
authors: York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Mongate Health Center, 31 Monkgate, York YO31 7WA, UK.
authors: Fiona
authors: F
authors: Wallis
authors: York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Mongate Health Center, 31 Monkgate, York YO31 7WA, UK.
authors: Clare
authors: C
authors: Knowles
authors: York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Mongate Health Center, 31 Monkgate, York YO31 7WA, UK.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Fairley
authors: York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Mongate Health Center, 31 Monkgate, York YO31 7WA, UK ; Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, HYMS, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Lacey
authors: York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Mongate Health Center, 31 Monkgate, York YO31 7WA, UK ; Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, HYMS, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
authors: Fabiola
authors: F
authors: Martin