New Zealand changes policy on antenatal HIV screening:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
New Zealand is to move towards routine antenatal HIV screening in line with the practice in Australia, the UK and elsewhere. In accordance with recommendations in the National Health Committee's "HIV screening in pregnancy" report 2004, the new policy will be piloted in an area of Auckland (Waikato) before it is implemented nationwide. The change in policy follows criticism that the current approach, of testing only high-risk patients, is being poorly implemented. New Zealand has a low but rising incidence of HIV.