HIV Type 2 (HIV-2) Leuko Pak / Whole Blood / Plasma

HIV type 2 (HIV2) is a subspecies of the lentivirus HIV. HIV2 is an important causative pathogen for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in West Africa, and HIV2 infections have been seen in increasing numbers in Europe, US and India. HIV2 has a lower infectivity than HIV1. HIV2 infection has a longer asymptomatic phase and slower progression to AIDS than HIV1 infection . Often patients infected with HIV-2 have a low viral load and a slower rate of CD4 cell count decline as compared those infected with HIV1. HIV2 share 30-40% identity of the envelope glycoproteins and 50% identify of the proteases with HIV1. As a result, some drugs for HIV1 intrinsically don't work for HIV2.

Leuko paks are obtained when they become available to our network of clinicians, by a donation process where blood is withdrawn from the donor via leukapheresis utilizing an apheresis machine such as the COBE Spectra Optia®. The donor’s white blood cells are selectively collected and the remaining blood is reinfused to the body.  We can also collect whole blood and plasma samples from the patients. Some disease types may have a long backorder depending on the frequency of the disease occurrence in the general population.

HumanCells’ HIV-2 products are obtained from patient donors who are fully consented and IRB approved.