[The reasons for false positive results with recombinant preparations in HIV infection]

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with the use of test systems based on recombinant HIV antigens has yielded positive results much more often than that with the test systems based on HIV lysate. In comparison with the use of protein A-peroxidase conjugate, the use of antiglobulin conjugates decreased the specificity of EIA, thus ruling out the false positive results. The tested sera containing antibodies to antigens of enteric bacilli could yield false positive EIA results with test systems prepared from recombinant antigens due to the interaction of these antibodies with antigens of enteric bacilli. A conclusion on the usefulness of the control for the presence of the components of enteric bacilli, producers of HIV antigen, and their elimination from recombinant preparations is made.