Fourie, Jozef MarkusLoskutoff, NaidaHuyser, Carin2015-03-202015-03-202015-03Fourie, JM, Loskutoff, N & Huyser, C 2015, 'Semen decontamination for the elimination of seminal HIV-1', Reproductive BioMedicine Online, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 296-302.1472-6483 (print)1472-6491 (online)10.1016/j.rbmo.2014.11.008http://hdl.handle.net/2263/44070The 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.en© 2014 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Reproductive BioMedicine Online. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online, vol.30, no. 3, pp. 296-302, 2015. doi :10.1016/j.rbmo.2014.11.008.Density gradient centrifugationHIV-1Semen decontaminationSemen processingHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)Assisted reproductive treatment (ART)Postprint Article