Increased detection of human immunodeficiency virus antigen carriers by simultaneous assay of plasma and extracts from resting and phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Antigenaemia due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is thought to be significant either before the appearance of a specific antibody response, or after its decline during terminal stages. In order to increase the rate of detection of HIV antigen carriers, regardless of the stage or despite the presence of specific serum antibodies, we assayed, simultaneously, plasma samples and extracts from resting and phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated mononuclear cells from 25 infected, anti-body-positive individuals and 10 healthy, antibody-negative female volunteer blood donors. We detected the presence of HIV antigen in at least one of the three types of specimens obtained from all the 25 infected subjects but in none of the 10 healthy blood donors. This approach might prove most useful for the study of patients with controversial or equivocal antibody test results.
Ruiz-Arguelles
A
A
Department of Immunology, Laboratorios Clinicos de Puebla, Mexico.
Ponce-de-Leon
S
S
Presno-Bernal
M
M
Ponce-de-Leon
A
A
Ortiz-Lopez
R
R
Rojas
G
G
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins