Molecular analysis of 53 strains of human immunodeficiency virus type-1(HIV-1) from Jamaican patients revealed the presence of several subtypes and a high genetic diversity of the virus in Jamaica.

The majority of strains of HIV-1 isolated from HIV-1 infected individuals in Jamaica were found to be HIV- 1 subtype B. The less frequently found HIV-1 subtypes were C, D and E and some strains were untypable by the methods used.