Immunoblot reactivity of a non-HIV protein with human sera. Transfusion Safety Study Group

Examination of serum for the presence of antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by immunoblot analysis requires precise identification of reactivities with various HIV specific proteins. During a recent survey of approximately 2,000 sera, we identified 22 sera from non-HIV-reactive blood donors and 2 from individuals receiving blood products for congenital blood disorders, which consistently and exclusively reacted with a protein of a molecular weight slightly greater than 65,000 daltons (termed AT65). Since the HIV pol p65 protein reacts with specific antibodies at about the same position (i.e., 65,000 daltons), it was essential to determine the viral or nonviral origin of the AT65 reactivity. Our data indicate that the AT65 reaction is due to a protein present on normal or activated lymphocytes, which can co-purify with HIV preparations used for immunoblot analysis. Recognition of HIV-specific p65 and nonspecific AT65 reactions is important to those responsible for interpretation of HIV immunoblots and may aid in the evaluation of some "indeterminant" results.