HIV isolation and antigen detection in infected individuals and their seronegative sexual partners.
We have examined 39 couples, each consisting of one HIV-seropositive index case and one seronegative sexual partner. HIV isolations, HIV antigen (HIV-Ag) tests and HIV antibody tests were performed on samples from these 78 individuals. Results were compared with those of 68 unselected individuals. Neither HIV, nor HIV-Ag was detected in any of the seronegative individuals. HIV-Ag tests, but not HIV isolations showed positive results with a significantly lower frequency in symptomatic index cases than in unselected patients with symptoms. This indicates that the absence of HIV-Ag in the serum may be correlated with a low level of contagiousness.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
D000956:Antigens, Viral