SCREENING OF HIV ANTIBODIES BEFORE MEDICOLEGAL AUTOPSIES.

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Sangeetha Ranganathan,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Forensic Medicine,
Govt. Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital,
Salem, Tamilnadu, India.
E-mail: drsangimohan@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The post-mortem examination room is the place where infection can spread to persons performing autopsy. The persons involved in autopsy are having a very high risk of various injuries and infections. Therefore, screening of HIV is necessary in routine medico-legal autopsies to prevent spread of infection to forensic personnel.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the present study were to determine the incidence of HIV infection in deceased whose HIV status was not previously known, to create the awareness among forensic personnel and to know the importance of HIV antibody screening in routine medico-legal autopsies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted on 486 routine autopsy cases at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. The samples were tested for HIV antibodies using SD Bioline HIV-1/2 3.0 – a rapid immunochromatography assay test kit to detect the presence of HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 antibodies. Samples yielding HIV seropositive were confirmed by Alere Determine^TM HIV 1/2 antibody test – an immunochromatography test to detect HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 antibodies.

RESULTS

Out of 486 samples tested for HIV antibodies, 4 samples gave positive result and all the four cases were positive only for HIV-1. The positive cases were not previously known to have HIV infection and all 4 positive cases were male. When looked into the cause of death, among the 4 positive cases 2 cases (50%) had homicidal cause. This shows that screening of HIV infection is essential in community where crime rate is high.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV antibodies were identified in 4 cases in whom the HIV status was not previously known. Though the number of seropositive samples was not significant, it shows that there is high chance of occupational transmission of HIV infection to forensic personnel in autopsy room. Therefore, screening of HIV antibodies is of great importance in routine autopsy cases.

KEYWORDS

HIV, Immunochromatography Assay, Forensic Personnel.