Abstract
To the Editor.— We read with interest the report by Novick et al 1 regarding the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in parturient women in New York State. In Italy, where cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among women and children represent 17.7% and 3.2%, respectively, of all patients with AIDS reported, we carried out a program similar to that described by Novick et al. Using blood samples collected on adsorbent paper during June through December 1988 for the routine detection of hereditary metabolic disorders, we examined for the presence of anti-HIV antibodies (HIV-Ab) 23 492 consecutive newborn babies from 63 hospital nurseries in nine Italian regions. At the National Blood Transfusion Center of the Italian Red Cross, one blood-saturated disk was punched out from each collection paper, without identification of the patient. The sample was eluted in phosphate-buffered saline as described previously 2 and screened for HIV-Ab
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
