Concordance of Polymerase Chain Reaction with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibody Detection

Abstract

To evaluate the correlation of detection ofhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with detection of HIV antibody, 271 simultaneous serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were examined from 242 persons whose activities placed them at increased risk for HIV infection: 142 from homosexual men, 86 from hemophilic men, and 43 from heterosexual partners of HIV-infected persons. peR was performed using the gag region primer pair SK38/39 and the env region primer pairs SK68/69 and C071172. Amplified HIV DNA was detected using specific oligomer probes. Of 63 mv antibody-positive samples, 58 (92%) had HIV DNA by PCR. Of 208 HIV antibody-negative samples, 7 (3.4%) had mv DNA by PCR. On follow-up, 4 ofof the latter persons were seropositive when next tested; 2 were well and antibody- and PeR-negative; 1 had died ofa stroke before retesting. Thus, PCR detects mv in most antibody-positive persons; detection is increased by use of multiple primer pairs. PeR-positive antibody-negative specimens may indicate HIV infection in which antibody has not yet developed or may be false-positive PCR results. When PCR is discordant with HIV antibody, testing ofadditional specimens and clinical follow-up are necessary to assess HIV infection status.