False-Positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Test Results in Patients Receiving Lentivirus-Based Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy: Case Report, Review of the Literature, and Proposed Recommendations

We report that all cases of false-positive HIV nucleic-acid-testing in patients receiving CAR T-cell therapies have occurred in the setting of lentivirus-based therapy and testing with assays targeting the 5'LTR genomic region. Herein, we provide testing recommendations for this patient-population. There are emerging reports of false-positive HIV nucleic acid testing (NAT) in patients who have received chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies. We present a case of a 66-year-old-woman with primary-refractory stage IIIA double-hit high-grade B-cell lymphoma, in whom we detected false-positive HIV-1 NAT results after receipt of a third-generation self-inactivating investigational lentivirus-based CAR T-cell therapy. We reviewed the current state of the science on HIV-1 NAT and found that all reported false-positive cases have occurred in the setting of lentivirus-based CAR T-cell therapy and testing with FDA-approved platforms targeting the 5'LTR genomic region. Herein, we offer recommendations for HIV diagnostic testing in patients undergoing this mode of therapy. Clinicians managing this patient population should be aware of cross-reactivity between these therapeutic agents and commonly used HIV-1 NAT assays.

Automated summary

False-positive HIV nucleic acid testing has been reported in patients receiving CAR T-cell therapies, specifically in lentivirus-based therapies and assays targeting the 5'LTR genomic region. We present a case of false-positive HIV-1 NAT results in a patient who received lentivirus-based CAR T-cell therapy. All reported cases of false-positive HIV testing have occurred in the same context. Recommendations for HIV diagnostic testing in patients undergoing this therapy are provided.