[Difficulties in serological diagnosis of HIV infection]

Using Abbott's kits for immunoenzymatic diagnosis of antibodies to the recombinant antigens of the HIV-1 retrovirus (EIA-II test which was higher valued than the EIA-I test of the previous generation of the same production) 16,480 examinations of the sera of high risk groups and foreign students were done. All positive or doubtful results of the EIA test were verified by the Western blot technique. The obtained results positive and doubtful are presented, and only four were not in agreement by both methods. Attention is called to the possibility of erroneous results of tests when the instructions of the producer are not followed, if the sera are incorrectly prepared for the test, and if inactivated sera are used.