We evaluate the accuacy and precision of maximum likelihood estimation procedures for infectivity of HIV in partner studies. This is achieved by applying the oricedyre typothetical samples generated by computer. One hundred samples were generated with various combinations of parameters. The estimation procedure was found to be quite accurate. in addition it was found that the power of the test for equality of infectivities for two types of contact depends on sample size and length of observation period but not on the number of observations made on each subject. Tests based on a model for the infectivity had higher power than standard methods for comparing proportions.