An unusual seroconversion profile in a pregnant woman infected with the human immunodeficiency virus-1: need for using later generations HIV screening assays.
The first HIV-1 marker that appears in blood following infection is HIV-1 RNA and usually the load is in millions of copies/ ml preceding seroconversion. A 24-year-old pregnant woman, gravida 2, parity 1 was tested for HIV as part of antenatal screening. Three samples were collected and tested from this individual over a period 70 days. The HIV-1 RNA level during seroconversion phase was very low, contrary to the well understood natural history of HIV infection. The reactivity rate in the ELISA and the Western Blot profile showed a gradual increase over the 70 days with a weak reactivity in a second generation assay (detects IgG only) for the third sample. This case illustrates the uncertainties regarding the serological window period in HIV infection and the need to use at least a third generation assay in testing centres for early detection of HIV infection.
Kannangai
R
R
Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. rajeshkannangai@hotmail.com
Kandathil
A J
AJ
Daniel
H D
HD
Prasannakumar
S
S
Lionnel
J
J
Abraham
P
P
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000592:standards*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral