FAILURE TO DETECT SILENT HIV-INFECTION BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION IN SUBJECTS AT RISK FOR HETEROSEXUALLY TRANSMITTED HIV TYPE-1 INFECTION

The prevalence of silent HIV-1 infections in subjects at risk of acqui ring HIV infection by heterosexual transmission was assessed using a n ested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The two groups of risk su bjects consisted of 92 female prostitutes and 43 heterosexual partners of infected individuals. Appropriate positive and negative control pe rsons were included in the study. Serum samples were also tested for a ntibody to HIV-1 by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and positive results c onfirmed by Western blot. PCR results in the two risk groups and the p ositive and negative controls were in full agreement with serological results. It is concluded that silent infection with HIV-1 is infrequen t in persons at risk for heterosexual transmission.