What you need to know in
addition as nurses
• OraSure, OraQuick and blood test are
detecting antibody to HIV
• In neonates the presence of antibody could mean
exposure to HIV, but not infection with HIV.
Maternal antibodies may persist for up to 6
months
• Absence of antibodies is not proof of absence of
infection or incapability of transmitting HIV.
Antibody response to recent exposure may take
several months to develop. “seroconversion”