No evidence of HIV-1 infection in seronegative hemophiliacs and in seronegative partners of seropositive hemophiliacs through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and anti-NEF serology.

We prospectively studied a well-characterized cohort including 60 seronegative hemophiliacs or von Willebrand's disease patients, 6 seronegative female sexual partners of seropositive hemophiliacs, 59 seropositive hemophiliacs or von Willebrand's disease patients and 2 seropositive partners of seropositive hemophiliacs (used as positive controls), and 117 seronegative low risk individuals (used as negative controls). PCR assay, performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using three primer pairs in the gag, pol, LTR regions, showed no positive results in the 60 seronegative patients, in the 6 seronegative partners of seropositive patients and in the 117 seronegative low risk individuals, while PCR was positive with at least one primer pair in 53 (87%) of 61 seropositive patients. Anti-nef serology (Western-blot) was negative in seronegative patients, in seronegative partners of seropositive patients and positive in 58% out of the seropositive individuals. These results strongly suggest an absence of HIV-1 infection in individuals with a lastingly negative HIV serology.