Abstract

PIP:

A reply is offered to an article likening the use of condoms to Russian roulette in its vaunted protection against AIDS. The Food and Drug Administration endorsed the use of nonoxynol-9 in condoms against infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and genital herpes. 1985 research indicated that nonoxynol-9 inactivated HIV in vitro in concentrations below 0.05%. At a 1987 congress on AIDS a study was presented involving the testing of 30 condoms. 20 contained 0.9 ml of 6.6% nonoxynol-9 and 10 contained none of the substance. Each condom was placed on an empty sterilized contraception in a glass cylinder containing a 10 ml substrate of flowing synthetic tissue culture (RPMJ 1640), and 4 ml of HIV inoculum was put on top of the condoms. Anal or vaginal intercourse was simulated for 5 minutes. After each simulation 1 ml of the test material of the test material was taken out of the cylinder and from the top of the condom for HIV testing. 10 condoms without nonoxynol-9 were all HIV negative, where the test sample was taken from the outside and inside of condoms after the first simulated intercourse but before a hole was pierced into the condoms. None of the test samples taken from the inside of the condoms were HIV positive among 10 other condoms containing nonoxynol-9 with HIV inoculum. 2 of these 10 sample test taken from the outside before a hole was pierced proved to be positive among 10 condoms containing nonoxynol-9 with HIV inoculum on the outside. HIV could not be detected on the outside of any of the 20 condoms containing nonoxynol-9, even after rupture. Intact latex condoms are impervious to HIV, and those with nonoxynol-9 inactivate it in concentrations above 0.25%, even if the condom breaks.