False-Positive Tests for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Excerpt

To the Editor: The problem of false-positive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is well documented (1-4). Particular groups of patients have been identified as having a greater incidence of false-positive assays. These groups include patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, miscellaneous autoimmune diseases (1, 2), candidiasis, infectious mononucleosis (2), alcoholic hepatitis (1, 3), and hematologic malignancies (1, 2, 4).

At our hospital, patients being considered for heart-lung transplants are routinely screened for antibody to HIV-1 by the EIA test. We report our observations concerning a group of patients with cystic fibrosis