Recent experience with human immunodeficiency virus transmission by cellular blood products in Germany: antibody screening is not sufficient to prevent transmission.
OBJECTIVE
A case of transfusion-related human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) transmission was not detected by standard HIV antibody screening.


METHODS
In a look-back procedure, the preceding donations were extensively analyzed by nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) screening and alternative serological tests.


RESULTS
The chain of infection could be demonstrated by the analysis of HIV-specific amplicon sequences from the donor and the recipient.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report clearly indicates that the remaining risk of transfusion-related transmission of HIV could be severely reduced, not only by the use of NAT screening but even by HIV antigen screening or more sensitive HIV antibody assays.
Dreier
J
J
Institut für Laboratoriums- und Transfusionsmedizin, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen, Universitätsklinik der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
Götting
C
C
Wolff
C
C
Petersen
N
N
Kleesiek
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards*; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards*; D001782:Blood Donors; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005858:Germany; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011786:Quality Control; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019562:Viral Load
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic