Efficient primary isolation of human immunodeficiency virus

A highly-sensitive and efficient culture technique for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is described; HIV-1 was recovered from the lymphocytes of 44 (94%) antibody-seropositive healthy or symptomatic individuals. The reductions in the requirements for both the reagent volume and the number of patients' lymphocytes, together with an increased efficiency, has made this HIV-1 culture system more practical for diagnostic virology laboratories.