SummaryThis particular journal researches prenatal HIV testing as it relatesto vertical transmission.1.Randomized controlled studies involving HIV- positive pregnant women at various stages of pregnancy were monitored and evaluated in an effort to find conclusive reasoning for prenatal testing. Women of different income levels, educational and ethnic backgrounds were involved in these studies. 2. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group Study 076 as well as following randomized controlled trials were used in order to test whether prenatal testing was an effective means of preventing the vertical transmission of the HIV virus. Quick and relatively simple tests were performed in order to first determine whether pregnant mothers were HIV- positive. If the mother then tested seropositive, antiretroviral therapy was begun in an effort to reduce the perinatal transmission of the virus. Randomized trials performed in developing countries also tested whether early detection followed by antiretroviral therapy greatly reduced viral transmission.3. The ACTG 076 showed that in cases involving prenatal HIV testing, where the virus was discovered in the earlier stages of pregnancy, that treatment could lower the chance of transmission from 25 % to 8 %. Furthermore, since these findings were released along with the recommendation that prenatal testing be mandatory for all pregnant women the cases of perinatally transmitted AIDS reported in the United States have been cut in half. B. CritiqueAIDS Clinical Trials Group Study 076 produced evidence that mandatory prenatal testing would be effective, but it is plausible that the study itself could have been more effective.1. The studies performed were statistically sound and lead to seemingly significant results. Randomized and controlled studies were performed subsequently in an effort to ensure useful results. Statistically, these methods of research produce findings that are typically more accurate tha...
