Are we forgetting the children? Testing the children of HIV-positive parents

Undiagnosed HIV infection in children carries significant risks and national guidelines recommend that children of HIVpositive parents be tested. We reviewed the testing of HIV-positive patients' children in those new to our service from April 2008 to December 2009. Of the 86 women, 95% were asked about children. Of the 243 men, 53 were heterosexual or bisexual, and 190 identified themselves as men who have sex with men (MSM). Parental status was determined in 37 (70%) of heterosexual and bisexual men and in 14 (17%) of 84 MSM with a history of previous female partners. All untested children apart from one lived in their country of origin. In MSM, recording of parental status was uncommon. Following this audit, clinic proformas were changed to document the parental status of men of all sexual orientations, and the HIV status of all children.