[HIV-antibodies in cord blood samples from Uganda]

Cord blood samples were collected from 140 Ugandan neonates after vaginal delivery from healthy women and were tested for the presence of HIV antibodies. Two ELISA tests were used: "HTLV-III EIA" and "ELAVIA". Eleven (7.9%) of the 140 samples were positive and 127 were negative by both ELISA tests. The positivity of 11 samples was confirmed by immunofluorescence assay and Western blot analysis. Two cord blood samples were negative by the "HTLV-III EIA" test but positive by the "ELAVIA" test. These 2 samples were negative by immunofluorescence assay and positive by Western blot analysis. But only antibodies against the proteins p24, p52, and p65 were revealed. Both samples were negative by radioimmunoprecipitation assay for LAV-I and LAV-II antibodies.