Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Guidelines Issued for Prenatal HIV Testing

Pregnant women should be encouraged to undergo voluntary AIDS testing in light of studies showing that the drug AZT can dramatically reduce transmission to the fetus, federal health officials said. Guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which promote counseling and testing, are not without controversy. Many in the AIDS community fear they may lead to mandatory testing for recipients of federally supported health services. They believe this would drive women away from critical health care services.