False-positive human immunodeficiency virus antibody test in a dialysis patient.
A patient developed end-stage renal disease secondary to p-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) positive rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. He subsequently had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 antibody screening performed as part of a pre-transplant evaluation. The HIV-1 enzyme immunoassay (EIA) antibody test was repeatedly reactive. The HIV-1 western blot was indeterminate. The western blot pattern revealed "non-specific staining obscuring bands in that region." Another sample of serum was sent and the results were identical to the first result. An HIV-1 proviral qualitative polymerase chain reaction test was then performed several months later and no HIV-1 DNA was detected. One year later, an HIV-1 RNA test was negative. Thus, the positive antibody EIA test and the indeterminate western blot represent a false-positive result, most likely due to cross-reacting antigens in the patient's serum with various HIV antibodies. Throughout this period and thereafter, the patient has exhibited no symptoms of HIV infection.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, LA 70112, New Orleans, USA. dsilve@lsuhsc.edu
Douglas M
DM
Silverstein
Diego H
DH
Aviles
V Matti
VM
Vehaskari
D000293:Adolescent; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D015483:HIV Antibodies