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Reduced frequency of blood donors with false‐positive HIV‐1 and ‐2 antibody EIA reactivity after elution of low‐affinity nonspecific natural antibodies
Author(s) -
Bouillon Marlene,
Aubin Éric,
Roberge Chantal,
Bazin Renée,
Lemieux Réal
Publication year - 2002
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.1537-2995.2002.00164.x
Subject(s) - elution , chaotropic agent , antibody , thiocyanate , chemistry , antigen , chromatography , toxoid , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , whole blood , immunology , medicine , biochemistry , immunization
BACKGROUND : The detection by EIA of antibodies (Abs) specific to HIV antigens in the serum of blood donors is important for transfusion safety. A small but significant number of donor sera (0.1‐0.3%) yield false‐positive results in EIA, and these donors must be permanently deferred from the blood donor list, causing operational and public relations problems. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : False‐positive EIA reactions could be caused by the binding of low‐affinity natural polyreactive Abs, which could be eluted by treatment with a chaotropic agent such as thiocyanate (SCN). The effect of the SCN elution on EIA specificity was studied using tetanus toxoid and HIV Abs. RESULTS : SCN elution preferentially reduced the binding of nonspecific Abs. Testing of 235 seronegative samples in HIV‐1 and ‐2 EIA showed that SCN elution reduced the mean and dispersion of OD values obtained. In addition, SCN elution abolished the false‐ positive reactivity in HIV‐1 and ‐2 EIA of 69 percent (299/435) of the repeatedly reactive specimens tested without impact on the reactivity of HIV‐seropositive specimens. CONCLUSION : The SCN elution step increased the specificity of HIV‐1 and ‐2 EIA and could facilitate the re‐entry of previously deferred donors.