Objective: The increasing number of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-positive carriers, poses difficulties when musculo-skeletal tissues are considered for banking in readiness for future clinical application. This study was conducted to test the actual yield of gamma irradiation on HIV infectivity, within HIV-infected bones. Methods: The effect of gamma irradiation on bones containing T-cells chronically infected with HIV type I (HIV-I) was studied, in respect to inactivation of the virus. . Results: After exposure of the cell-free virus or infected T-cells to 2.5 megarads of gamma irradiation, the authors were able to demonstrate complete inactivation of the virus. Conclusions: It would appear from this study that gamma irradiation at this dose is sufficient to achieve clinical sterilisation of bones and facilitate their use for reconstructive procedures by eliminating the risk of HIV transmission to the recipient. Furthermore, when preparing bones for banking, this would also seem to be the method of choice in preventing the transmission of various strains of bacteria, fungi and other viruses.

Keywords: HIV, inactivation, irradiation