A False Positive HIV Antibody Reaction Due to Transfusion-Induced HLA-DR4 Sensitization

Abstract

To the Editor: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for serum antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may give false positive results in low-risk groups.^{1 , 2} HLA antigens are present in some HIV ELISA kits,^{3 , 5} and antibodies against HLA Class II antigens occur in some subjects with false positive ELISAs.^{6 , 7} However, serial studies have not been done to establish a causal relation between these findings. We describe a patient with acute leukemia in whom both antibodies against HLA-DR4 and a false positive HIV ELISA transiently occurred while he was receiving red-cell and platelet transfusions.Screening for HIV antibody was performed with an . . .