Muccini C, Galli C, Spagnuolo V, et al. - Researchers examined whether, in adults with chronic HIV-1 infection and suppressive antiretroviral therapy, negative HIV-1 pol on Western blot (WB) was associated with low HIV-DNA. They conducted a cross-sectional parent study of the APACHE trial including individuals with chronic infection, HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL for ≥ 10 years, no residual viremia for ≥ 5 years and CD4+ > 500 cells/µL screened for HIV-1 DNA. Ninety-six patients were evaluated; these comprised 78 (81%) and 18 (19%) individuals with HIV-1 DNA ≥ 100 copies/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and with HIV-1 DNA < 100 copies/106 PBMCs, respectively. Findings revealed an association of negative HIV-1 pol on WB with low HIV-1 DNA as well as with higher nadir CD4+, longer years of HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL, and an R5-tropic virus.