STABILITY OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS (HIV) ANTIBODIES IN POSTMORTEM SAMPLES

The stability of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies was stu died for samples of sera, vitreous fluid and bile obtained from eight HIV-positive autopsy cases. The autopsy delay was on average 5 days. T he samples were stored at room temperature (20 degrees C) for 51 to 31 4 days and tested repeatedly. In Western blotting on fresh postmortem samples, the antibodies detected most of the proteins of the virus. An tibodies against all major envelope, core and transmembrane proteins, although weakened, were also detected in stored sera. In stored vitreo us fluid and bile the envelope protein gp 160, the transmembrane prote in gp 41 and in half of the cases also the major core protein p 24 cou ld still be detected. The disappearance of p 24 was associated with AI DS, but was detected in all samples from patients with early infection . Of screening tests, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay applying s ynthetic peptide as an antigen detected antibodies from all serum samp les, but was less applicable to vitreous fluid or bile. Another immuno assay, applying recombinant antigen, succeeded in vitreous fluid and b ile but not in sera. The rapid visually read assay detected antibodies in most samples of fresh whole blood, bile and in most of the vitreou s samples, but was less useful on stored specimens.