[Evaluation of DNA-HIV detection in various population groups].

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the diagnostic use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the detection of HIV-DNA.

METHODS

We have investigated HIV-DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 150 individuals: 50 seronegative without recognized factors to acquire HIV infection, 50 seronegative that showed risk habits and 50 seropositive. For amplification we have used primers SK38/SK39 which amplify a conserved region of 114 bp from HIV's gag gen. The detection of the amplificate was performed using solution hybridization with 32P-labelled SK 19, 6% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography.

RESULTS

We have detected HIV-DNA at every seropositive patient (100%), 6 samples from seronegative individuals that showed risk habits and 1 sample from non-risk seronegative individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Polymerase chain reaction represents a diagnostic tool at HIV infection, specially for those patients where seroconversion can not be demonstrated by conventional methods.