Absence of HIV‐1 infection in antibody‐negative sexual partners of HIV‐1 infected hemophiliacs

ABSTRACT: In order to confirm the presence and determine the frequency of human immunodeficiency virus, type I (HIV‐1) infection prior to antibody production, 23 healthy women with histories of repeated unprotected sexual exposure to HIV‐1 infected hemophiliacs were tested for evidence of HIV‐1 infection. Female subjects were tested for HIV‐1 antibody (enzyme immunoassay [EIA] and Western blot), HIV‐1 serum antigen, HIV‐1 DNA gag sequences by the polymerase chain reaction, and HIV‐1 virus isolation from peripheral mononuclear cells. Twenty‐two of 23 (96%) women were negative by all HIV‐1 assays. One woman was positive by all the HIV‐1 assays including an EIA screening test for HIV‐1 antibody. These preliminary results suggest that the frequency of HIV‐1 infection in antibody‐negative sexual partners of HIV‐1‐infected individuals is probably very low. 1989 AABB