Review of the Prevention of Perinatal HIV Transmission Protocol Use in British Columbia.

The Prevention of Perinatal HIV Transmission protocol in British Columbia aims to prevent HIV transmission in birthing parents with unknown status by identifying high-risk birthing parents, providing HIV testing, and administering antiretroviral therapy (ART) to birthing parents and infants. We conducted a retrospective quality improvement review of protocol use between 2018 and 2023. The protocol was initiated in 776 infants and 766 birthing parents. Infants received a median of 5 days of ART. No new HIV cases were identified, and all known HIV polymerase chain reaction results were negative. As no new cases of HIV occurred, improved approaches for HIV risk evaluation and testing are needed to reduce unnecessary infant ART exposure.