Scientific Publications by FDA Staff

Transfusion 2004 Jun;44(6):929-33

Window-period human immunodeficiency virus transmission to two recipients by an adolescent blood donor.

Phelps R, Robbins K, Liberti T, Machuca A, Leparc G, Chamberland M, Kalish M, Hewlett I, Folks T, Lee LM, McKenna M

Phelps R, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Natl Ctr HIV STD & TB Prevent, Off Commun, MS E-07, Atlanta, GA 30333 USA Natl Ctr HIV STD & TB Prevent, Div HIV AIDS Prevent, Atlanta, GA USA Natl Ctr HIV STD & TB Prevent, Div AIDS STD & TB Lab Res, Atlanta, GA USA Ctr Dis Control, Natl Ctr Infect Dis, Div Viral & Rickettsial Dis, Atlanta, GA 30333 USA Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Atlanta, GA USA Florida Dept Hlth, Tallahassee, FL USA US FDA, CBER, Mol Biol Lab,Off Blood Res & Review, Div Emerging & Transfus Transmitted Dis, Bethesda, MD USA Florida Blood Serv, St Petersburg, FL USA

BACKGROUND: Pooled NAT and donor screening have reduced the diagnostic window period for HIV in the blood donor population to approximately 10 to 15 days. This report describes two cases of transfusion-acquired HIV infection and verification of transmission from the donor to the recipients, and attempts to identify how the 18-year-old donor acquired her infection. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: After a repeat donor had a positive HIV test result, two recipients of the donor's previous donation were identified and tested. The donor and recipients were interviewed and blood samples were obtained for HIV DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: The two recipients had positive HIV test results. Phylogenetic analysis showed a high genetic similarity among the viruses (bootstrap 100%), consistent with transmission from the donor to the recipients. Four of five men with whom the donor had sexual contact during the critical time period when infection most likely occurred were located and tested; results were negative for HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Pooled NAT of blood donations has not eliminated the window period for HIV identification during seroconversion.