ETHANOL TREATMENT OF TENDON ALLOGRAFTS - A POTENTIAL HIV INACTIVATINGPROCEDURE

The penetration rate of ethanol in human tendons was studied to in ord er to define the conditions which were necessary to achieve an inactiv ating concentration against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) wit hin the tendon. The rate of alcohol penetration was found to be slow a nd did not differ with different types of tendons. An average ethanol concentration of 14% (v/v) was measured in human tendons after they ha d been immersed for 2 h in 70% (v/v) ethanol, and a concentration of 1 9% (v/v) was reached after 3 h. Ethanol immersion of human tendons may represent an additional safety procedure in inactivating the HIV viru s provided the duration is at least 3 h.