Most transmission appears to occur perinatally. Maternal viral load is the major factor associated with transmission. Administration of anti-viral drugs to infected mothers may significantly reduce mother to child transmission. The question of whether these viruses are more infectious has not been determined. Diagnosis Laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection is performed by testing for anti-HIV antibody.
Confirmation is critical, since false positives can occur.
There is generally a window of 1 to 3 months following infection before antibody develops. There are a number of assays for measuring the degree of viremia. Such assays measure either viral antigens or determine the presence of viral nucleic acids. These are research tools and not of diagnostic use. Management of HIV Infection Supportive care and management of opportunistic infections through treatment and prophylaxis are the most effective strategies.