The aim of the current investigation was to determine the presence and frequency of C-482T and T-455C in the APOC3 promoter region, and the frequency of the HLA-B*57:01 allele in a cohort of black South African HIV-1 patients in an attempt to identify patients at risk of developing untoward metabolic effects such as hyperlipidemia and abacavir associated hypersensitivity. Here, HLA-B is linked to hyperlipidemia.