Significance of human T-lymphotropic virus type I indeterminant serological findings among healthy individuals

Vox Sang. 1991;61(3):171-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1991.tb00942.x.

Abstract

Follow-up studies on 67 blood donors with indeterminant serological findings for human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type I by standard immunoassays showed no evidence of infection by polymerase chain reaction analysis for HTLV-I or HTLV-II nucleic acids or by antibody reactivity to a unique HTLV-I recombinant envelope protein, MTA-4. Among HTLV-I- or -II-infected individuals, a history of blood transfusion, past residence in established HTLV-I endemic areas or some association with intravenous drug use were common. In contrast, 85% of indeterminant cases had none of these risk factors. These observations suggest that healthy individuals with indeterminant serology for HTLV-I should not require additional studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Donors
  • Blotting, Western
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HTLV-I Antibodies / blood
  • HTLV-II Antibodies / blood
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Radioimmunoprecipitation Assay

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • HTLV-I Antibodies
  • HTLV-II Antibodies