An unusual seroconversion profile in a pregnant woman infected with the human immunodeficiency virus-1: need for using later generations HIV screening assays

Indian J Med Microbiol. 2008 Oct-Dec;26(4):390-2. doi: 10.4103/0255-0857.43570.

Abstract

The first HIV-1 marker that appears in blood following infection is HIV-1 RNA and usually the load is in millions of copies/ ml preceding seroconversion. A 24-year-old pregnant woman, gravida 2, parity 1 was tested for HIV as part of antenatal screening. Three samples were collected and tested from this individual over a period 70 days. The HIV-1 RNA level during seroconversion phase was very low, contrary to the well understood natural history of HIV infection. The reactivity rate in the ELISA and the Western Blot profile showed a gradual increase over the 70 days with a weak reactivity in a second generation assay (detects IgG only) for the third sample. This case illustrates the uncertainties regarding the serological window period in HIV infection and the need to use at least a third generation assay in testing centres for early detection of HIV infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Serodiagnosis / standards*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / blood*
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV Seropositivity*
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Mass Screening / standards
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • HIV Antibodies
  • RNA, Viral