title: Detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus in vaginal secretions by immunoglobulin G antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: application to detection of seminal antibodies after sexual intercourse.
abstract: In order to evaluate a commercial immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody capture enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) (Wellcozyme HIV1 + 2 Gacelisa; Murex Diagnostics Limited, Dartford, United Kingdom) for the detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vaginal secretion samples (VS) from HIV-seropositive and -seronegative women, serum samples (S) and VS were obtained from 129 African women living in the Central African Republic, a country of high HIV prevalence. Sera were tested for HIV by routine second-generation ELISA with confirmatory Western blot (immunoblot) (WB). By the Gacelisa IgG immuno-capture assay, 45 VS were positive and 84 were negative, whereas by WB, 44 VS were confirmed positive and 85 were confirmed negative. Considering WB as a reference, the IgG immunocapture assay in VS was 97.7% sensitive (43 of 44 positive samples) and 97.6% specific (83 of 85 negative samples). Of 42 HIV-seropositive women, 41 (97.6%) had S and VS that both were HIV positive (S+ VS+), and of 87 HIV-seronegative women, 83 (95.4%) had S and VS that both were HIV negative (S- VS-). Five women had discordant results for S and VS. One (S+ VS-) possibly had a false-negative VS result. Two (S- VS+) had similar indeterminate patterns for S and VS in WB. Two (S- VS+) had a typical HIV-positive pattern on WB of VS, whereas S results in WB were indeterminate in one case and negative in the other case; for both women, detection of prostatic acid-phosphatase was positive in VS, strongly suggesting recent sexual intercourse with an HIV-positive man. Because all HIV-infected men have detectable IgG antibodies to HIV in the seminal fluid, an HIV-seronegative rape victim with HIV-positive VS (S- VS+) should receive short-term antiviral therapy to prevent possible HIV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Immunologie Microbienne, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélec
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grésenguet
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dragon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meillet
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pillot
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002488:Central African Republic; D003075:Coitus; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D017137:Nonoxynol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011902:Rape; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology*; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017137:Nonoxynol; D015215:Zidovudine