Vaccine-Induced SeroPositivity (VISP)
The CWRU/UH AIDS Clinical Trials conducts HIV prevention vaccine trials in the Greater Cleveland area. The elicitation of antibodies to HIV by the vaccines can cause the risk of a false HIV diagnosis through standard HIV antibody testing.
Please feel free to contact the Unit with any questions about VISP or HIV-vaccine related matters at rob2@case.edu or 216-844-2247. In the event of an emergency, please call 216-207-7244, pager #35333.
Information for medical providers and HIV testing counselors
Risk of False HIV Diagnoses
HIV vaccine trial participants can test HIV vaccine-induced seropositive (VISP) even if they are not infected with HIV.
Tests such as EIA, Western Blot and rapid tests detect HIV antibodies, not the virus, resulting in a potentially false diagnosis of HIV infection for some HIV vaccine trial participants.
We do not know how long the body will retain these antibodies. Some former study participants have tested VISP even 20 years post-study.
Incorrect HIV diagnoses of study participants create significant problems and can:
- Cause unwarranted distress.
- Result in incorrect HIV infection reporting to public health authorities.
- Compromise a participant’s study “blind,” which is needed for accurate conclusions about a vaccine’s effect on safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy.
- Result in unnecessary treatment with ARVs for mother and child during pregnancy and/or labor and delivery.
In order to get the appropriate test to differentiate VISP from true HIV infection, HIV vaccine study participants are instructed to decline HIV tests outside their study site.
- Study participants may decline HIV tests due to current or former study participation.
- Free HIV tests are available through the participant’s vaccine study site or the HVTN VISP Testing Service.
- Your patient can give the study site permission to send you test results showing recent HIV status.
- With your patient’s permission, you may be able to contact the study site directly.
Help your patient avoid an incorrect diagnosis:
- Inform your patients if HIV testing is indicated for their healthcare.
- Ask patients whether they have participated in an HIV vaccine trial—even if they don’t fit your perception of HIV vaccine study participants.
- Familiarize yourself with HIV vaccine trials happening in your area. If you need HIV test results on a patient who is or was an HIV vaccine trial participant, please contact the participant’s trial site to coordinate the HIV test.
