Total and HIV-1-specific IgG and IgA in vaginal secretions do not differ by sampling device or timepoint in the same women.

<p>(A) Dacron swabs, flocked swabs, and Merocel sponges were collected from 5 HIV-1 infected (colored circles) and 5 HIV uninfected (grey triangles) women and the eluate was analyzed for total IgG (left) and total IgA (right). Symbols represent the average of two collection time points spaced one hour apart, for each woman and sampling device. For HIV-1 infected women, colors indicate specific individuals. (B) Samples from the first time point (filled circles) and one hour later (open circles) from the 5 HIV-1 infected women were analyzed for gp41-specific IgG (left) and IgA (right) activity, calculated as antigen-specific mean fluorescence intensity (MFI)/ng ml⁻¹ total IgG or IgA. Colors indicate specific individuals. The box-and-whisker plots represent median, 25^th and 75^th percentiles, and range.