Investigating the presence of HIV sequences and the distribution of virological markers in hemophiliacs and their sexual partners.

In this study, we report the investigation of a hemophiliac cohort, in which the last HIV-1 seroconversion occurred in 1985. We wanted to evaluate whether 5 years later the results of serological screening and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology would match. We examined 61 German patients with congenital deficiencies of factors VII, VIII-c, and IX, and 16 sexual partners (15 partners of anti-HIV-1-negative hemophiliacs). Patients' and partners' anti-HIV-1 status was determined by ELISA and Western blot. Further, we applied the PCR to investigate the possible presence of HIV sequences in anti-HIV-1-negative individuals. Four sets of primers were used in four separated reactions to avoid false-negative results due to genetic variation, as well as false-positive results due to DNA carryover. The data by PCR were not different from the data attained by conventional serological methods. The prevalence of serological markers for HBV and HCV was determined.