False-Positive HIV Testing in a Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Recipient: A Case Report

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapy has transformed the treatment of hematologic malignancies, and its use is rapidly expanding in other areas as well. Many currently available CAR T cells use a lentiviral vector derived from HIV-1, which can then lead to false -positive HIV tests in CAR T recipients. We present a case report and review of literature of this phenomenon. As increasing numbers of patients receive CAR T-cell therapy, awareness of the potential for false-positive HIV testing is critical for providing care to these patients.