HIV-1 infection status in two HIV-1 antibody positive infants determined using the polymerase chain reaction.

: The HIV-1 infection status of two HIV-1 antibody positive infants born to HIV-1 infected mothers was determined using the polymerase chain reaction. HIV-1 genomic sequences were not detected in the white blood cells of either infant suggesting that they were not infected. HIV-1 genomic sequences were detected in the white blood cells of the mothers of both infants and in cells from the one surviving father. These results confirm the value of the PCR detection method for assessing the HIV-1 infection status of infants born to HIV-1 antibody positive mothers.