[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10086-10087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4368]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Availability of Draft U.S. Public Health Service Recommendations 
for HIV Counseling and Testing for Pregnant Women

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health 
Service (PHS), Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for review and comment 
of a draft document entitled ``U.S. Public Health Service 
Recommendations for HIV Counseling and Testing for Pregnant Women.'' 
The document was prepared by CDC staff in collaboration with other 
internal PHS and external consultants.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments on this draft document 
must be received on or before April 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the draft recommendations must be 
submitted to the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, 
Rockville, MD 20849-6003, telephone (800) 458-5231. Written comments on 
the draft document should be sent by mail or facsimile to the Technical 
Information Activity, Division of HIV/AIDS, National Center for 
Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
Mailstop E-49, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30333, facsimile 
(404) 639-2007, for receipt by April 10, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical Information Activity, 
Division of HIV/AIDS, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop E-49, Atlanta, GA 30333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In February 1994, the National Institutes of 
Health announced interim results from AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) 
protocol 076 indicating that zidovudine (ZDV) therapy administered to a 
select group of HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborns reduced 
the risk of perinatal HIV transmission by approximately two thirds. In 
April 1994, provisional recommendations for the use of ZDV therapy in 
HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborns were published. In June 
1994, representatives from Federal and nonfederal health agencies and 
other organizations attended a meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, to 
discuss development of U.S. Public Health Service recommendations to 
prevent perinatal HIV transmission and the implications of those 
recommendations for HIV treatment, counseling, and HIV testing. In 
August 1994, the U.S. Public Health Service published recommendations 
for ZDV therapy to reduce the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV 
(also available from the CDC [[Page 10087]] National AIDS 
Clearinghouse, telephone (800) 458-5231).
    The draft recommendations for HIV counseling and voluntary testing 
for pregnant women have been developed to provide a framework to enable 
pregnant women to know their HIV infection status; advise HIV-infected 
pregnant women of ways to prevent perinatal, sexual, and other 
transmission of HIV; facilitate appropriate follow up for HIV-infected 
women and their infants; and assist uninfected pregnant women in 
identifying methods to reduce their risk of acquiring HIV infection.


    Dated: February 15, 1995.
Jack Jackson,
Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-4368 Filed 2-22-95; 8:45 am]
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