Human immunodeficiency virus in cadavers: A review.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Medicine
• Virology
• Public Health

Background:

• Millions are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), yet post-mortem detection research is limited.
• Accurate post-mortem HIV status is vital due to unavailable medical records and unknown HIV status.
• Understanding HIV in deceased individuals aids in accidental exposure management and organ donation research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on post-mortem HIV detection.
• To determine the most efficient HIV testing methods for post-mortem samples.
• To identify optimal tissues/fluids and the duration of HIV detectability in deceased individuals.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar.
• Search terms included "HIV detection," "post-mortem," and "organ donor."
• Forty-three relevant English-language studies were included, excluding review articles.

Main Results:

• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot were the most common screening and confirmation tests.
• Serum is the gold standard for post-mortem HIV testing; skin testing shows promise.
• HIV remains detectable for up to 58 days, though few studies examined samples beyond 48 hours.

Conclusions:

• This review highlights the need for further research into post-mortem HIV detection methods and sample types.
• Future studies should address the identified literature gaps regarding HIV detectability duration.
• Establishing reliable post-mortem HIV testing protocols is crucial for public health and forensic applications.