The autopsy in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. How and why.

The autopsy on the patient who has died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can be of great value to the physicians who cared for the patient and to society in general. Although the AIDS virus has been shown to be significantly contagious in the clinical setting, there is no evidence thus far that it is particularly contagious in the autopsy room. Indeed, there is no documentation of a pathologist or autopsy room assistant having contracted AIDS or having seroconverted because of the performance of an autopsy on a patient with AIDS. Procedures to follow in the autopsy of the patient with AIDS are described. The hospital pathologist can safely examine the patient who has died of AIDS by using the well-established techniques for performance of the autopsy.