Related Experiment Videos

Use of PCR amplification for diagnosis of HTLV-I infection after blood transfusion

F Agbalika1, P Honderlick, F Ferchal

  • 1Department of Bacteriology-Virology, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.

We studied the seroconversion to human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-I) in two immunocompromised patients after transfusions of cellular blood components. One patient produced IgM antibodies against the viral p19 protein 149 days post-transfusion (a serum on day 43 was negative). Both patients showed indeterminate Western-blots (IgG anti-p19 and anti-gp46 but no anti-p24). Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two primer pairs (SK43/44 and SK54/56), we demonstrated HTLV-I infection prior to seroconversion. This infection was confirmed by Southern blot.

Related Concept Videos