Background: Discernable genetic variation among people and populations has an important role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Various human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class I and class II genes are positively or negatively associated with disease contractibility and progression.

Methods: 50 HIV seropositive patients from Armed Forces including families and 50 HIV seronegative healthy, volunteer, randomly selected male blood donors from Armed Forces were studied over a period of two years and their HLA class I and class II genetic profiling was done by polymerase chain reaction–sequence specific probe (PCR–SSP) method.

Results: There was increased frequency of HLA–A24 and a decreased frequency of HLA–A2 in HIV positive subjects as compared to healthy controls.

 Conclusion: Observations on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genomics among study population suggest high vulnerability to HIV infection in HLA–A24 and a resistance to infection in HLA–A2 subjects.