HIV-1 RNA load in needles/syringes from shooting galleries in Miami: a preliminary laboratory report.
We quantified HIV-1 RNA load in rinses from needles/syringes (N/S) obtained at shooting galleries in Miami and also analyzed the rinses for antibodies for viral proteins. In rinses from 36 N/S that contained visible blood, 14 (39%) had detectable amounts of HIV-1 RNA. Numbers of copies of HIV-1 RNA ranged from the detection limit (400 copies/ml) to 268,000 copies/ml. We also detected antibodies to HIV-1 polypeptides in 34/36 (94%) of rinses from visibly contaminated N/S using Western blots specific for the HIV-1 proteins. No antibodies were detected in laboratory rinses from six visibly clean needles. The presence of HIV-1 RNA in N/S is an important indication of the risk created by N/S sharing as well as by shared paraphernalia and wash waters by injecting drug users.
Shapshak
P
P
Comprehensive Drug Research Center, University of Miami and University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136, USA. pshapsha@med.miami.edu
Fujimura
R K
RK
Page
J B
JB
Segal
D
D
Rivers
J E
JE
Yang
J
J
Shah
S M
SM
Graham
G
G
Metsch
L
L
Weatherby
N
N
Chitwood
D D
DD
McCoy
C B
CB
D015153:Blotting, Western; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015750:Genes, gag; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016485:Needle Sharing; D009339:Needles; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D013594:Syringes; D019562:Viral Load
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral