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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2009, p. 2883-2887, Vol. 47, No. 9
0095-1137/09/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JCM.02131-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Service de Virologie, CHU de Toulouse, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, Toulouse F-31059, France,1 INSERM, U563, Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Toulouse F-31300, France,2 Facultés de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse F-31400, France,3 Human Fertility Research Group, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier (EA 3694) and CECOS Midi-Pyrénées, CHU de Toulouse, Hôpital Paule de Viguier, Toulouse F-31059, France4
Received 7 November 2008/ Returned for modification 20 April 2009/ Accepted 20 July 2009
The semen plasma virus load is measured to ensure the safety of sperm processing during medically assisted procreation (MAP) for couples with a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected man. A practical, automated protocol using the COBAS Ampliprep CAP/CTM kit in the COBAS TaqMan96 system was developed to measure the HIV-1 load in semen plasma samples. HIV-1 was detected in 13.4% of the semen samples processed at our MAP center. Of the eight patients having a detectable semen HIV-1 load, five had no detectable virus in their blood plasma. This highlights the residual risk of HIV-1 transmission during unprotected intercourse and raises the question of the possible consequences of ineffective highly active antiretroviral therapy in the genital tract.
Published ahead of print on 29 July 2009.
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