What is vaccine-induced seropositivity, or VISP, and what are the consequences for patients with VISP?
HIV‑1 vaccine study participants can test positive for HIV on common antibody-based screening assays even if they do not have an HIV infection.
This occurs because the investigational vaccine has induced antibodies against HIV, causing vaccine-induced seropositivity (VISP), also known as vaccine-induced seroreactivity (VISR). A standard HIV antibody test could provide positive results in your patient for years, even though they are not infected with HIV.
If someone wrongly believes your patient is infected with HIV, your patient could face stigma, discrimination, and/or other problems, such as:
Limitations to medicalor dental care
Employmentrestrictions
Difficulty obtaininginsurance
Rejection of a visaapplication for traveling
Inability to donateblood or organs
An HIV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is currently the only diagnostic tool that can distinguish a true HIV infection from VISP. PCR testing is the most accurate form of testing because it detects the viral components; however, this type of test may not be routinely offered in all countries or clinics.
If a person has VISP, they will not pass the antibodies to another person by kissing or through sexual contact. However, antibodies could be passed from mother to child during pregnancy. Hence, newborns should be tested using a PCR test.
For more information about VISP, please see the following website: https://visptesting.com/support-for-healthcare-providers
(Adapted from HIV Vaccine Trials Network. The right HIV test. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.hvtn.org/participate/visp-and-hiv-testing.html, and from BridgeHIV. What you need to know about vaccine-induced sero-positivity (VISP). Accessed July 22, 2024. https://bridgehiv.org/trialsandvials/visp/)