Detection of seminal antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus in vaginal secretions after sexual intercourse: Possible means of preventing the risk of human immunodeficiency virus transmission in a rape victim

Detection of semen anti‐human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies within the cervico‐vaginal secretions from a non‐HIV‐infected woman who has had a recent sexual intercourse with an HIV‐infected man is theoretically possible since the seminal fluid from all HIV‐infected men contains a high titer of IgG antibodies to HIV. We report the case of an HIV‐seronegative African woman whose cervico‐vaginal secretions contained IgG antibodies to HIV, including antibodies to HIV‐env‐encoded glycoproteins. This woman had also detectable prostatic specific antigens and acid phosphatase in her cervico‐vaginal secretions, establishing the persistence of semen. In order to confirm whether anti‐HIV antibodies in seminal fluid could be detected in vitro when mixed with cervico‐vaginal secretions, 10−1 to 10−6 10‐fold dilutions of seminal fluid from HIV‐1‐seropositive donors were realized with a pool of HIV‐negative cervico‐vaginal secretions as diluent. Six commercial enzyme immunoassays or rapid tests were compared for semen anti‐HIV detection in the secretions. At a 10−1 dilution of the mixture, all assays were markedly positive for all tested semens and the greatest dilutions of seminal fluid showing positivity ranged from 10−3 to 10−5. The IgG immunocapture assay appeared to be the most sensitive test. The rapid tests permitted the detection of semen IgG antibodies to HIV at dilutions ranging from 10−1 to 10−3 suggesting their potential value in emergency situations. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.