Inactivation of HIV by application of heat and radiation: Implication in bone banking with irradiated allograft bone

Abstract

We developed methods for inactivating the human immunodeficiency virus by heat and ionizing radiation and tested the effects of these treatments on the mechanical strength of bone. Simultaneous use of heat and radiation caused a considerably greater inactivation of HIV than the additive effects of the two separate treatments, but also caused a significant reduction in the maximum load sustained by the bone specimens tested with an Instrom machine. Application of the same doses but given in the sequential fashion of radiation followed by heat also caused marked inactivation of HIV and had less effect on the mechanical strength of the bone.