title: Postmortem viability of the human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: In 1989 blood samples from 2581 fatalities investigated at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Hamburg were screened for HIV-1-antibodies. Sera from 13 corpses were confirmed positive for HIV-1 (prevalence rate approx 0.5%).-Viable HIV was found in blood cultures of 4 cadavers stored under non-refrigerated conditions up to 36 hours after death.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Püschel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohsenian
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laufs
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polywka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ermer
mesh_terms: D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000473:pathology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012307:Risk Factors; D014774:Virulence; D014776:Virus Cultivation
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies