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Identification and characterization of an HIV‐2 antibody‐positive blood donor in the United States
Author(s) -
Sullivan M.T.,
Guido E.A.,
Metler R.P.,
Schable C.A.,
Williams A.E.,
Stramer S.L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1998.38298193104.x
Subject(s) - human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , identification (biology) , antibody , blood donor , medicine , immunology , virology , biology , botany
BACKGROUND: As of June 1, 1992, the Food and Drug Administration recommended that all donated blood be screened for antibodies specific to HIV‐2. Despite broad serologic surveillance, only two cases of HIV‐2 infection had been detected among potential blood and plasma donors since the implementation of the test. CASE REPORT: The identification of a third HIV‐2 antibody‐positive blood donor is reported. The first‐ time donor was identified by routine screening procedures as anti‐HIV‐ 1/HIV‐2‐reactive, and that status was confirmed by licensed HIV‐1 Western blot. Concurrent whole‐virus lysate enzyme immunoassay and Western blot for HIV‐2 were strongly positive, but the possibility of HIV‐1 cross‐reactivity could not be eliminated. The donor was notified, counseled, and deferred from future donation. He subsequently enrolled in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‐sponsored epidemiologic study of HIV‐positive former donors. When it was revealed during the standardized interview that he was a native of an HIV‐2‐endemic region, follow‐up samples were submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Investigational HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 peptide enzyme immunoassays indicated that this infection was due to HIV‐2 only. CONCLUSION: Enzyme immunoassays for antibodies to synthetic peptides of HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 may be useful in differentiating the two viruses in individuals with ambiguous Western blot results and risk factors for HIV‐2 infection.