London - All pregnant women in Britain are to be offered a HIV test to cut the number of infected babies. Under plans to be unveiled today, the tests are to be recommended to women as part of their routine ante-natal screening. It is hoped the measure will cut the growing number of cases of babies infected with the deadly virus and also improve treatment for women with HIV.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "There is going to be no element of compulsion in this at all. If women know they are infected then there is a chance they can reduce the risk of transmission from mother to baby by one in six to less than one in 20. It also means the women themselves can benefit from early treatments which are now on offer."