Routine testing of pregnant women for HIV has been announced by the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen. The Minister said it would be introduced from April. "Treatment can reduce the chance of the baby being infected by about 66 per cent," he said.
Testing will commence in the Southern Health Board area, and in the Coombe Women's Hospital and the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin.
The Rotunda Hospital in Dublin has already been carrying out such testing.
