Blood donors with indeterminate anti-p24gag reactivity in HIV-1 western blot: absence of infectivity to transfused patients and in virus culture

Vox Sang. 1989;56(3):162-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1989.tb02020.x.

Abstract

During a follow-up period of 23-40 months, 7 regular blood donors had persistently, and 4 had intermittently indeterminate anti-p24gag reactivity in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 Western Blot. Serological testing and viral cultures revealed that these donors had no signs of infection for HIV-1, HIV-2, human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-4, and HTLV-1. Extensive interviewing and physical examination of these donors revealed neither risk factors, nor signs of HIV infection in the tested donors. Ten recipients, who were transfused with blood products from 6 of these 11 anti-p24gag-positive donors, were traced back. Six months after transfusion, no serological or clinical signs of HIV-1, HIV-2, or HTLV-1 infection were observed in these patients. It is concluded that blood donors with persistent or intermittent anti-p24gag reactivity in HIV-1 Western Blot, without development of antibodies to other HIV-encoded proteins in later blood samples, do not transmit the described retroviruses to transfused patients.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / transmission
  • Blood Donors*
  • Blood Transfusion*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Deltaretrovirus Antibodies / analysis
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Antibodies / analysis
  • HIV Antigens / analysis*
  • HIV Core Protein p24
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Retroviridae Proteins / analysis*

Substances

  • Deltaretrovirus Antibodies
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Antigens
  • HIV Core Protein p24
  • Retroviridae Proteins