Intro thread antibod - Help interpreting the anti-HIV (CL) results?

[antibod]

Hello fellow members, unfortunately having to miss the chance of first introducing myself as a newcomer I sadly felt the urge to seek an answer to the worries in my mind and I'd be extremely thankful to have some saturation. So I've been on medication for approx. 2,5 months and I've been prescribed Triumeq following my confirmatory test and a series of other extensive STI and screening tests alike. A few days ago I received a text from this general public service site saying that I have to immediately apply for military draft and start the necessary procedures. With having in my mind that being HIV pos. I'll be exempted from the military service, I started the process and was referred to this nearby public hospital to have my medical examinations carried out. They've apparently conducted a macro elisa test there and I was asked to have confirmatory and informative documents from the main hospital  where my treatment monitoring and anaylses are conducted with me once their own confirmatory tests are done. This evening I wanted to see if their results were ready and I thankfully came to see that my Anti HCV and HBsAg results were negative but  my results for anti-hiv (chemiluminescence or alike) test stands to be 1384 positive confirmed (in mg/dL) with the reference value of H(<1). The thing is my previous value was around 600s when I was first examined for HIV type-1 almost 3 months back. And the idea that my antibody levels being more than doubled drives me crazy. I just have to make sure if I'm interpreting it correctly and I already got an appointment for tomorrow from this nearby hospital just because I can't take any from this larger hospital where my treatment's monitoring is supposed to be carried out. Any guidance on the issue would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

Introductions here often include questions, I don't think we will skip the intro and I've moved your thread to be your introduction thread.

How are you getting on with treatment and how are you feeling for the rest?

my results for anti-hiv (chemiluminescence or alike) test stands to be 1384 positive confirmed (in mg/dL) with the reference value of H(<1). The thing is my previous value was around 600s when I was first examined for HIV type-1 almost 3 months back. And the idea that my antibody levels being more than doubled drives me crazy. I just have to make sure if I'm interpreting it correctly and I already got an appointment for tomorrow from this nearby hospital just because I can't take any from this larger hospital where my treatment's monitoring is supposed to be carried out. Any guidance on the issue would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Well, a CLIA (Chemiluminescent immunoassay) is for the laymen like me similar to the ELISA test. It's, in other words, it's used as an HIV antibodies test. I know a few with lab background could probably explain it more in-depth if it adds value.

You are new to HIV treatment and prehaps your VL was only recently or not yet suppressed, so antibodies levels can rise for a time before levelling out and somewhat declining (settling). That's what I recall anyway, had a quick look and found a reference that at least was in line with what I could recall.  Open to correction from the group of course. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5853429/

So I would not be stressing about it. What are your Viral Load and CD4 counts looking like? Are you taking the meds daily?

Best, Jim

[antibod]

Hi!

First of all, I'd really like to thank you for your concern. I'd say I'm getting on treatment fairly well most of the time (there've been times -like for 2 to 3 days- when I missed the exact timing of my daily medication intake within the range of 20 to 40ish minutes indeed). So these 2-3 days have previously been a concern for me for some time. But I'm trying my best to take my pills right on time and to avoid any food or antiacids containing considerable levels of ca, al, mg, iron etc before & after taking my pills in order to avoid any possible interaction so I'd well say that I'm cool minded in that regard... My recent monitoring tests were conducted in the late january and my monoclonal antibody (flow cytometry) for CD4 count came to be 26% total cd4 + t-cells which is 6% higher than it was first screened back in the early december. On the other hand, my earliest (in the early december as I said) vl result was 187000 copies per mililiter. Before getting prescribed Triumeq it seems to have risen to 210000 just within 11 days. I sadly can't reach any information regarding my vl results for late january though.
My thankful regards.

[Jim Allen]

You're welcome.

I'm on the same medication, there is no requirement to be avoiding certain foods.
You may have to avoid supplements etc that contain far higher levels of concerned items though.

CD4 count came to be 26% total cd4 + t-cells which is 6% higher than it was first screened back in the early december. On the other hand, my earliest (in the early december as I said) vl result was 187000 copies per mililiter. Before getting prescribed Triumeq it seems to have risen to 210000 just within 11 days. I sadly can't reach any information regarding my vl results for late january though.

Well, we all have a starting point, looking at yours it looks pretty good relatively speaking.  With a bit of time, the VL should become suppressed and with CD4% at 20 and 26% you seem fine on that front as well.

I'd say I'm getting on treatment fairly well most of the time (there've been times -like for 2 to 3 days- when I missed the exact timing of my daily medication intake within the range of 20 to 40ish minutes indeed)

That's perfect and, 40 mins each way really is not an issue.

Keep us posted on how you get on or if you have questions 

[antibod]

I'll be heading to the hosp. within 2 hours so wish me some good luck 

Btw, it seems as if I won't be able to have an appointment for quite some time from this larger hosp. where my treatment monitoring takes place and won't be able to contact my consultant most probably because of the large masses of people pouring in to that place to get tested to see if they're pos. for sars cov 2. Such chaotic times to deal with health issues indeed...

[harleymc]

I'm confused, was it your level of antibodies or your viral load up?

If it was your antibody levels, I would have thought that's a good thing.