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- calendar_today October 22, 2026
New Rapid HIV Testing Program Targets Maternal and Newborn Care
Saskatchewan is now the first jurisdiction in Canada to widely implement a rapid, on-site HIV viral load test program, aiming to improve care for expectant mothers and their newborns. The province is also one of the first regions globally to use the test in this way, helping health-care workers determine the best treatment for infants based on the viral load of their mothers, according to the test's manufacturer, Cepheid.
Crystal Kay’s Experience Highlights the Need for Change
Crystal Kay, a mother living with HIV in Regina, recounted her anxiety during pregnancy due to challenges accessing prenatal care and delays in receiving information about her viral load. She waited days for test results after delivering her child, fearing possible transmission of HIV. "I gave natural birth to my kids, right? And there's blood involved, too. That's what kind of made me scared to pass it on to them," she shared. Kay expressed hope that the new rapid hiv test will spare other mothers from the uncertainty she faced: "It would have helped me then, too. Better than waiting for days and days."
How the Program Works and Its Provincial Rollout
The Xpert HIV-1 VL XC test, manufactured by Cepheid, provides on-site viral load results within about two hours, a significant improvement over previous waits of several days for lab results. Dr. Ninad Mehta, clinical microbiologist with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, explained that immediate results allow health professionals to make prompt hiv treatment decisions. A secondary test confirms results later on, ensuring accuracy.
The program is already active in hospitals in Regina and Saskatoon, with expansion underway in Melfort and remote communities. Dr. Mehta emphasized, "Anywhere in the province that will deliver a baby eventually will have this test," and described the effort as a way to decentralize testing and bring timely care to more patients, particularly those without prenatal care or in rural areas—a notable advance in remote healthcare delivery.
Benefits for Care Providers and Families
Before the introduction of this rapid viral load testing, doctors often did not know the exact viral load of hiv positive mothers at the time of delivery, sometimes resulting in longer hospital stays or unnecessary medication for mother and child out of caution. The new program allows earlier discharge and tailored treatment, supporting families to reunite sooner and avoid excess interventions. "The fact that we can discharge them sooner so that they can be with their family, they don't need to get an extra antiviral dosage, those things are important," Dr. Mehta said.
Saskatchewan received special permission to use the test in 2022, and Health Canada approved it for nationwide use in 2025. The rollout has involved collaboration among nurses, physicians, and lab technicians.
Saskatchewan's Innovation Gains National and International Recognition
Dr. Scott Sugden, senior director of medical affairs at Cepheid Canada, praised the province’s approach for addressing its high hiv diagnosis rate and for demonstrating creative use of available technology: "Not only were they forerunners, but they're actually creative and avant-garde thinkers in the way they're using these tests." He noted similar usage only in Tanzania and Mozambique.
Addressing Access and Stigma in Prenatal HIV Testing
Katelyn Roberts, executive director of Sanctum Care Group, pointed to ongoing challenges in hiv stigma and barriers to prenatal hiv testing. Many pregnant women may not know their viral load or status, often due to a reluctance to visit health-care settings. Roberts highlighted that stigma, rather than the disease itself, is a larger obstacle for seeking care, though she believes resources for pregnant women with HIV have improved.
According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan’s first-time hiv diagnosis rate in 2024 was three times the national average, ranking second-highest in the country after Manitoba. The hope among healthcare providers and advocates is that innovative programs like this will help close gaps in newborn hiv care and improve outcomes for families across the province.
Source: cbc.ca.
