Abstract

Objective: In this retrospective study, we aimed to discuss the results of anti-HIV-1/2 ELISA and Western-Blot (WB) tests, and particularly the distribution of HIV-specific seropositive bands  performed in patients with suspected HIV infection and in blood donors and preoperative patients in the Serology/ELISA Laboratory.

Methods: Sera samples of patients were screened for anti-HIV-1/2 antibodies by ELISA and additionally by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA). The confirmation of anti-HIV-positive sera samples was performed by Western-Blot method.

Results: Of 85,881 cases evaluated retrospectively during 5 years, 84,164 (98%) were blood donors and preoperative routine serology patients, and 1717 (2%) were patients with suspected HIV infection. Of 84,164 sera samples of blood donors and preoperative screening patients, 5 (0.006%) were anti-HIV-positive, and one of them was WB-positive as well. Of 1717 patients who were suspected to be HIV-infected, 72 (4.2%) sera samples demonstrated anti-HIV-1/2 positivity. Of these 72 patients, 56 sera samples were WB- positive for HIV-1 and one for HIV-2.

Conclusions: These retrospective data from one center on anti-HIV-1/2 and Western-Blot seroprevalence for a 5-year period are in agreement with other Turkish studies, and also concordant to those of global and local reports with respect to the distribution of transmission routes of HIV. Furthermore, a case of unusual HIV-2 infection appearing in this retrospective evaluation indicates that care should be taken to screen not only HIV-1 pandemic but also HIV-2 infections due to the effects of globalization in particular.