The US Department of State issued an adoption notice on December 22, 2009.
http://adoption.state.gov/news/removal_of_HIV_from_list.html
This Final CDC rule is effective January 4, 2010. The full text can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/laws_regs/fed_reg/remove-hiv/full-version-final-rule.html
The CDC decision is based on the following “While HIV infection is a serious health condition, it is not a communicable disease that is a significant public health risk for introduction, transmission, and spread to the U.S. population through casual contact.”
Prior to this ruling, all applicants 15 years of age or older had to be tested for HIV as well as those under age 15 if there was reason to suspect HIV infection (for example, if the child had a parent that was HIV-positive).
The US Department of State notice states that this new ruling “does not prevent prospective adoptive parents from getting their own in-depth medical examination done overseas. Prospective adoptive parents may wish to arrange an additional private medical examination with more in-depth testing of the child for conditions not included in the visa medical examination.”
PEAR’s POSitive study showed that only 64 percent of adoptees received HIV testing after returning home.
PEAR agrees with the American Academy of Pediatrics test recommendations that all international adoptees should have a HIV serology test performed. Additionally, PEAR recommends that placing agencies provide information to prospective adoptive parents about the risks of HIV infection in the country that the parents are adopting from as well as information on how to obtain the in-depth medical examination overseas as the Department of State has suggested.
Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/
www.pear-now.org