HIV Infection with Negative Serological Tests: Development of Seropositivity in Association with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

A 19-year-old woman with well-documented HIV-1 infection had persistently negative enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and Western blot serological tests. She has plasma HIV-1 RNA levels of >480,000 copies/mL and T-helper cell counts of ∼100/mm³. When treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the viral load became undetectable (<400 copies/mL), the T-helper cell count increased to >500/mm³ and EIA and Western blot tests became positive.