Intermittent Low-Level Viremia in Very Early Primary HIV-1 Infection

Serial samples from source plasma donors with confirmed new HIV infection were investigated for low-level viremia (LLV) (ie, 100 cp/mL HIV by 9 to 25 days (median = 18 days) and were separated from the latter by at least 1 sample with undetectable viremia by the qualitative PCR assay. We conclude that LLV is not uncommon during the very early period of primary HIV infection preceding ramp-up viremia. It is not known if blood is infectious during this period; however, given the low viral concentrations and transient nature of the observed viremic “blips,” the risk of infectivity can be assumed to be small.