Asymptomatic Blood Donor with a False Positive HTLV-III Western Blot

Abstract

To the Editor: The recommendations of the Public Health Service for screening donated blood for antibodies to the HTLV-III virus have recently been implemented.^{1 , 2} The financial and psychosocial repercussions of widespread testing of asymptomatic persons from low-risk groups have been well illustrated in a Sounding Board article in the Journal.³ We report a case that further highlights the limitations of the currently available tests.The patient was a 34-year-old woman from rural Alabama who donated blood in May 1985. Initial testing at the local blood bank revealed that she was positive for HTLV-III antibody by ELISA tests on two . . .