Evaluation of a rapid assay system, HIV 1/HIV 2 Testpack, Abbott, to detect human immunodeficiency virus antibodies in postmortem blood.

For evaluating the HIV 1/HIV 2 Testpack (Abbott, Chicago, IL) to detect antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in whole postmortem blood 456 samples were collected prior forensic autopsies. All samples were tested using the enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and the Testpack; positively reactive samples and samples with equivocal results were confirmed by Western blot. Of the 456 samples 21 (4.6 per cent) proved to be reactive in both systems (confirmed by Western blot). In 17 cases (3.7 percent) interpretation of the result was difficult, but no serious misinterpretations occurred. It is concluded that the HIV-Testpack provides accurate results in testing whole postmortem blood for HIV antibodies.