The guidelines note important changes including:
- Immediate initiation of lifelong antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for all women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have an infant one year or younger irregardless of CD4 count;
- Repeat HIV testing for HIV-negative women every three months during pregnancy and breastfeeding as well as at labour and at their child’s six week immunisation visit;
- HIV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for all HIV-exposed babies at birth, 10 weeks and 18 months. PCR tests are the only tests that can diagnose HIV in HIV-exposed babies; and
- ARVs for all children five years and younger irregardless of CD4 count.