Condoms Prevent Transmission of AIDS-Associated Retrovirus

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> The majority of cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have occurred after exposure to seminal fluid, blood, or blood products. It has been recommended that individuals avoid contact with seminal fluid through the use of prophylactic sheaths, although the proof that the virus could not passthrough these commercial products has not been established. In previous studies we demonstrated that herpesvirus could not pass through condoms.¹We have now performed similar studies to determine whether retroviruses would be retained by these materials. <h3>Report of a Study.—</h3> For the experiments, both a mouse retrovirus and the AIDS-associated retrovirus (ARV-2) were employed. A solution of tissue-culture medium containing either 10^7,8infectious mouse xenotropic type C retrovirus particles per milliliter or 10⁶infectious ARV-2 particles per milliliter was used.^2,3The plunger from a 12-mL syringe was placed inside the condom, to which was added 4 mL of the