Lyophilization does not inactivate infectious retrovirus in systemically infected bone and tendon allografts.

Background: A review of multiple transplantations of human immunodeficiency virus-infected musculoskeletal allografts found that recipients of lyophilized (freeze-dried) bone or tendon from an infected donor all tested negative for human immunodeficiency virus. The finding that 75% of the recipients of fresh-frozen bone from the same donor contracted human immunodeficiency virus has led to speculation that freeze-drying may render retroviral-infected musculoskeletal allografts noninfectious.

Hypothesis: Lyophilization does not inactivate retrovirus in systemically infected bone and tendon.