Heat treatment of human serum to inactivate HIV does not alter protein binding of selected drugs

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be transmitted via certain biological fluids, particularly blood. To minimize the risk of accidental exposure, the virus may be inactivated by heat treatment of blood, plasma, or serum samples at 54-56 degrees C for 5 h. The objective of this study was to determine whether heat treatment of human serum alters the protein binding of model compounds. Diazepam, phenytoin, and digitoxin were selected for investigation because they bind to three different sites on human serum albumin (HSA); propranolol also was examined since it binds to both HSA and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein. The unbound fraction of selected drugs was measured by ultrafiltration at 37 degrees C after addition of each compound to either untreated or heat-treated serum. The percentage unbound in serum for diazepam, phenytoin, digitoxin, and propranolol was not significantly different between the untreated and heat-treated samples. Therefore, heat treatment of serum does not appear to alter the binding characterisitcs at these four binding sites and would not be expected to lead to erroneous unbound concentration estimates and inappropriate adjustments in drug therapy.