please advise im confused

[bubba2121]

Hello:

I had a sexual encounter 30 days ago which then had a hiv test on the 30th day,  the elisa came back positive and the western blot came back indeterminate with only p18 showing. I then had a dnapcr test done and it was negative. I was also diagnosed with epstein barr which my physician thinks caused the indetrminate western blot.  He reads these as negative due to the sensitivity of the dnapcr which he said would have caught something  way before the western blot since it searches for the virus rather than antibodies and that no relevant strands were present of the western blot .  Also, i had a cd4,12,20 done all of which were negative.  I aslo had batteries of blood work done as well and all was negative, ranging from sed rate to cbc, all std etc.

would you say based on that ,,that he is correct in the determination of the HIV virus.

thanks

[Matty the Damned]

Bubba,

ELISA Positive + Western Blot Indeterminate == HIV negative.

Perhaps you might tell us a little more about this sexual encounter?

MtD

[bubba2121]

The sexual encounter was general it was a girlfriend for a brief time just had sex now ejaculation inside or anything like that,, pretty neutral boring sex.

I was stressed out due to all the stuff you can read on the web. My dr says i should stop worrying and that the elisa and wb may always show something but the pcr is so sensitive that i can stop worrying,  You guys know so much i just need some reassurance.

you say its negative  but what is p18  can you help on that

[Matty the Damned]

So you had unprotected vaginal sex with this woman?

MtD

[bubba2121]

yes then waited 30 days and proceeded with the tests and results as stated above

[bubba2121]

so would you still say its ok based on the fact that the conversion woudl have happened at 22 days and the test were done at 30 days with a negative onthe pcr which according to the cdc dont give false negatives??

[Matty the Damned]

OK.

You should test again at 90 days (12-13 weeks) and that test should be an HIV antibody test. Your current tests are indeterminate and therefore are not conclusive.

The PCR test which your doctor bases his/her decision on is not approved for diagnostic purposes, though it does point to you being HIV negative.

Whilst you're about all this testing you should have a full sexual health screen performed. There are other sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea out there which are more prevalent and transmissible than HIV. A full screen will include, but is not limited to an HIV antibody test. Ask your doctor to arrange this.

MtD

[bubba2121]

i had that already full std screening hep , ghonorea, syph,chlaymedia,herpes etc and all negative.

I understand that it is not for diagnostic purposes but he said that some people always come back for western blot indeterminate with positive eliza and that the pcr is the only way to confirm.

is it true that the pcr is not used due to the sensitivity of it and that is can come back with flase positives on a more regular basis and its more costly so they dont standardize it. 

However, if you were me woudl you breathe easy?

Also, the strand p18 usually never shows up first in a hiv positive person is that correct its usually 24 or something so do youknow what 18 is?

Thanks for you help really appreciate it

[Matty the Damned]

Le sigh.

No, none of this palaver you're talking about is what you have to do.

If you want a conclusive HIV test result you have to have an HIV antibody test performed 12-13 weeks from the date of the unprotected sexual encounter.

Are you following me here, kid?

MtD

[bubba2121]

yes i follow,,, i justhave 1 last question,,,,,,if the elisa come back positive again and the western blot back indeterminate and the dnapcr comes back negative a second time would you then rule that as negative at the 13 week mark.

Sorry for the bother,,,, really appreciate it

[Matty the Damned]

Let's burn that bridge when we jump off it, eh?

Get tested (HIV antibody not PCR) at 12-13 weeks and tell us the results.

MtD

[Andy Velez]

Matty has given you the real deal. You need to re-test at 12-13 weeks with the ELISA for a reliable result. Hopefully you will continue to test negative.

HIV is not an easy virus to transmit and it's significantly harder to accomplish from female to male. With those earlier results and yours having been a brief single incident, the likelihood is that you will test negative.

But low risk is not the same as no risk. You need to keep this in mind for the future. You can have as much sex as you want to and with as many partners, but you must use a condom everytime. No exceptions no matter what you think you know about the person's history or anything else.

Good luck with your test.

Cheers,