{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T05:15:24Z","timestamp":1787030124221,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,13]],"date-time":"2023-05-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1683936000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Viruses"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with false-positive HIV screening tests. The underlying mechanism is unclear, and for clinical cases, evidence beyond a temporal connection is missing. However, several experimental studies point toward SARS-CoV-2 spike\/HIV-1 envelope (Env) cross-reactive antibodies (Abs) as a cause. Here, we present the first case of an individual with convalescent SARS-CoV-2 infection testing false positive in both an HIV screening and confirmatory test. Longitudinal sampling showed that the phenomenon was temporary but lasted for at least 3 months before waning. After excluding a multitude of common determinants for assay interference, we further show by antibody depletion studies that SARS-CoV-2-spike-specific Abs did not cross-react with HIV-1 gp120 in the patient sample. No additional case of HIV test interference was identified in a cohort of 66 individuals who presented to a post-COVID-19 outpatient clinic. We conclude the SARS-CoV-2-associated HIV test interference to be a temporary process capable of disturbing both screening and confirmatory assays. The assay interference is short-lived and\/or rare but should be considered by physicians as a possible explanation for unexpected HIV diagnostic results in patients with a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/v15051161","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,15]],"date-time":"2023-05-15T08:28:16Z","timestamp":1684139296000},"page":"1161","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["False-Positive Screening and Confirmatory HIV Diagnostic Test in a Patient with Cured SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Not Mediated by Env\/Spike Cross-Reactive Antibodies"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Carina","family":"Elsner","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5040-0323","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gwenllian A.","family":"Appeltrath","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Translational HIV Research, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Margarethe","family":"Konik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Janine","family":"Parreuter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Translational HIV Research, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4537-0964","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martina","family":"Broecker-Preuss","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory Medicine Section, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, 44892 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9502-9903","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Adalbert","family":"Krawczyk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"},{"name":"Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefan","family":"Esser","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Translational HIV Research, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"},{"name":"Clinic of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefanie","family":"Sammet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1934-6442","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christina B.","family":"Karsten","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Translational HIV Research, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2020). 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