[guatmom4113]

Has anyone gotten home with their child and been recommended by their doctor for their child to receive an HIV test??? My daughter's ped. suggested she be tested for this "because of where she comes from." I believe this test was done on the b. mom by the US Embassy. Can someone tell me if this is correct??? Also, I will accept opinions of this. I dont think there is any danger, but I do not want to subject my daughter who just turned 11 through any more trauma. She's been through enough. I just want to get on with normal life. They also were adamant about her getting tested for Hep A & B even thought they just vaccinated her against this. We are just about finished with her vaccines, and now they come up with this. I dunno . . .

[lotterino]

My agency has blood tests done before they refer children, and I think that is pretty standard. Both my children were tested for HIV by their pediatrician in Guat.

[babyjsmom]

I had HIV tests on both my children....Even though they had them in Guatemala, they just wanted to be safe.
They both came back negative but it was horrible 4 weeks wait and 6 of vials of blood.

My kids were 2 & 3, so they screamed! Do it now....just to be safe.

Jenn :-)

[allerseelen4]

my pediatrician is ordering them, even though he has had them already.

[kerriv]

It's considered standard of care for all IA kids.

[TXTennis]

When we got our referal we got lab results showing she was negative for HIV, Hep, etc... My ped. never mentioned it. I personally wouldn't put her through it unless she was ill and having blood drawn for other tests as well.

[giovanni7460]

I brought my sons home at 10 and 6 months. We had it done here as well the day after they arrived home. Yes it was sad and I cried more then. I think it was important to do.
Patty
mom to 5 including antonio and giovanni

[Quesita]

The US has a lot of extra rules and regulations for people with HIV who are trying to get papers to come to the US. Adoptive children are subject to the same scruitiny as any other immigrant, and i am sure they are tested before any visa is granted.

[guatemama94]

The embassy requires these tests among others (for hepititis, sexually transmitted diseases)...I received a copy of our sons with his paperwork.

So, in other words she already had the test prior to the issuance of the visa.

You can look this up on the DOS website...it gives specifics on what is required for orphan visas in terms of the medicals....

[mamaskoby]

Remember Hiv can take up to one year to present itself in blood work I believe. When I gave birth to my son I needed multiple blood transfusions and it was recommended I get HIV testing for one year following this event.....after one year they told me I was clear!! and did not have to go back for more testing....
I would do it to make sure, better safe than sorry!!
Anna

[mama8]

We have completed 5 adoptions and have always tested our children for HIV, Hep and about a zillion other things.........they do all the screenings at one time and it was never a big deal - it is a blood test. Yes they cry, but it is over quickly and you will feel worse than they do! I do not condone the comment "where she comes from" but since you probably do not have good medical info on the birth parents, I would do the test to protect her and to get her treatment if she needs it. A good friend brought her daughter home from China with a glowing medical report and blood tests completed - on a routine screening found she has Hep B - wouldn't you want to know this? Just my .02 = well maybe .04!

[LadyTink]

My daughter had one when she came home and another 6 months later. The international adoption clinic said this was part of their standard testing.

[phillymommy]

Our son was tested for HepA/B, syphilis, and HIV in GC and our pediatrician recommended we get him tested once he arrived in the States and six months later. It was horrible to see him give up six vials of blood for various infectious diseases, but it was comforting to know that all the results of the GC tests were correct.

~maria

[KJones5]

Our son was also tested when he came home. They did many blood tests on him as a standard practice for IA.

My concern with the test being done in GC is the accuracy. I'm not sure if they follow the same change of custody or if their labs are as sophisticated as what we have in the US. I'm not educated on this topic enough to know if this is a valid concern or not.

[susy...patience]

The int'l adoption clinic where I went for a class said that they always test for HIV (and lots of other things) when children are brought it after coming home to US. Dr also said that he had never had Guat child come up with different HIV result that shown in Guat test.