DIAGNOSIS OF VERTICAL HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 INFECTION BY WHOLE-BLOOD CULTURE

The qualitative and quantitative performance of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) whole blood culture method was assessed for use in the diagnosis of vertical HIV-1 infection. This method requires <1 mL of whole blood and allows for the quantification of blood virus load. HIV-1 was isolated from 36 (95%) of 38 whole blood specimens from 27 HIV-1-infected children compared with 0 of 16 whole blood specimens from 16 uninfected children. HIV-1 titers were significantly higher in severely symptomatic children (2450 TCID/mL) than in less symptomatic children (179 TCID/mL). This simple quantitative culture assay may be useful for the early diagnosis of vertical HIV-1 infection, the assessment of blood vims load, and the evaluation of antiretroviral therapies.