Impact of HIV vaccination on laboratory diagnosis: case reports.
BACKGROUND
It has not been clearly demonstrated whether HIV vaccination can complicate routine HIV testing. In this report, we describe the laboratory data of two prisoners who received rgp120 vaccine in a phase III trial underway in Thailand. These data indicate that previous vaccination may complicate the interpretation of screening HIV diagnostic tests.


METHODS
The participants were identified from a cohort study on "Health factors related to HIV-1 and other viral infections among incarcerated people" that was approved by The Ethical Committee for Research in Human Subjects, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. HIV diagnosis was definitively established with serial specimens using multi-screening tests, Western blot and diagnostic PCR.Anti-HIV screening tests consistently exhibited either weakly reactive or inconclusive results. The band patterns of the Western blot analysis corresponded to those found in individuals who received the rgp120 vaccination. Definite results were established using diagnostic PCR, which exhibited consistently negative results with follow-up specimens. Such problems in HIV testing are not easily resolved in the routine clinical setting in Thailand.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that HIV-1 vaccination interferes with routine diagnostic tests. Similar cases will not be uncommon in Thailand, where 2,545 people have already participated in a phase III trial.
Suthon
Vongsheree
V
National Institute of Health, Department of Medical Science, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. suthon@dmsc.moph.go.th
Archawin
Rojanawiwat
R
Chanchai
Chardbanchachai
C
John
Lerwitworapong
L
Wichuda
Kongpromsook
K
Wiroj
Paungtubtim
P
Hansa
Thaisri
T
Pathom
Sawanpanyalert
S
Pongnuwat
Sri-ngam
SN
Silaporn
Pithak
P
Wimala
Inunchot
I
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic / Q000009:adverse effects; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160 / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects; D011329:Prisoners; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160