When should a child born to an HIV-positive mother be routinely tested for HIV?

A child born to an HIV-positive mother should be routinely tested for HIV at 6 weeks of age because this timing takes advantage of the window when maternal antibodies may no longer be present, allowing for more accurate detection of the virus if the infant is indeed infected.

Testing at this age is critical to ensure prompt diagnosis and initiation of antiretroviral therapy if needed, which can significantly reduce the risk of developing AIDS and improve overall health outcomes for the child.

While testing can occur at various other stages, such as 48 hours after birth, 12 weeks, or 18 months, these timelines do not align as effectively with the recommended guidelines for early identification and management of HIV in infants. Testing too early may not yield accurate results due to the presence of maternal antibodies, and testing later, such as at 18 months, would delay necessary interventions that could be initiated based on earlier test results. Therefore, the ideal timing for the first HIV test in this context is indeed at 6 weeks of age.