Abstract:
The risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission to the female partner, or potential offspring of an HIV-1
infected man can be reduced using semen decontamination procedures before assisted reproductive treatment (ART). The
objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of decontaminating semen samples (n = 186) from 95 HIV-1 sero-positive
patients. Aliquots of neat semen were submitted for viral validation by qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Semen
samples were processed by density gradient centrifugation in combination with a ProInsert™ tube after which aliquots of the
processed sperm samples were analysed for the presence of HIV-1. Fifty-four percent of all tested neat semen samples tested
positive for HIV-1 DNA, RNA or both (13.4%, 11.3% and 29.0%, respectively). From a total of 103 processed sperm samples that were
submitted for viral validation, two samples tested positive for HIV-1 DNA and none for RNA. In conclusion, semen processing with
the ProInsert™ followed by viral validation of processed sperm samples should be carried out when providing ART to couples where
the male partner is HIV-1 sero-positive.
