Detection of an early HIV-1 infection by HIV RNA testing in an Italian blood donor during the preseroconversion window period

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2003-07, Vol.43 (7), p.848-852
• Main Authors: Aprili, Giuseppe, Gandini, Giorgio, Piccoli, Pierluigi, Bressan, Fausto, Gironcoli, Marzia De, Mazzi, Romualdo, Parisi, Saverio G., Gessoni, Gianluca, Marchiori, Giorgio, Franchini, Massimo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - diagnosis; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - virology; Adult; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Donors; Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis; HIV Core Protein p24 - blood; HIV Seropositivity - virology; HIV-1 - genetics; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; RNA, Viral - blood; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 0041-1132; 1537-2995
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.2003.00423.x

BACKGROUND: The implementation of NAT technologies for HIV screening has further reduced the diagnostic window in recent HIV infection. There is still a debate regarding the cost effectiveness of genomic screening of blood donations for transfusion‐transmitted viruses (HBV, HCV, HIV). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Since October 2001, at the Transfusion Service of Verona, single‐donation NAT testing for HCV and HIV‐1 (Procleix TMA HIV‐1/HCV Assay) of all blood donations has been performed. CASE REPORT: A case of acute HIV‐1 infection detected by HIV NAT in a repeat blood donor who donated during the preseroconversion window period is reported. All blood components donated were discarded, and the donor started antiretroviral therapy 2 weeks after blood donation. HIV‐1 p24 antigen was still negative 10 days after the HIV‐1 RNA‐positive blood donation. Seroconversion was documented by Day 41 after donation. CONCLUSION: This case report testifies that HIV NAT screening of blood donation is effective in preventing the transmission of HIV infection through blood components.