False Poz Results

[pixie]

Hey,

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place, but it seemed the nearest. My boyfriend of 3 yrs is Poz, and disclosed his status to me earlier this year. Ive just had my latest 3 monthly test and was told by my nurse that my 1st 2 tests always 'react' but the 2nd 2 do not. This always means a delay in getting the result as it has to be signed off as 'all clear' by a senior lab tech.

I'm not overly concerned, as we have always been very cautious, but I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this, and what it possibly means? My partner is in a different clinic due to our postcodes. His specialist thought it was an odd thing to tell me. I must admit, the constant conflicting information is beginning to get to me a bit!

[Andy Velez]

I'm not clear about what "first two tests" and the second tests were/are.

If someone tests positive/reactive, that positive is always confirmed with the more specific and sensitive western blot. A negative on the western blot always trumps the previous positive.

So if you have tested negative with a western blot then you are HIV negative.

[pixie]

Thanks Andy,

Perhaps naievely, I was always confident of a neg result. The main problem is the delays. Each time I am promised a 24 hour result, which always turns into a 72 hour wait. The 1st time was scary, but Im getting used to it now. Unfortunately the t'other half doesn't deal with the stress all that well.  I think that in the future, I'll just tell him once Ive got a result, not when Im going for the test!!!

[Andy Velez]

OK, so what you are really talking about are the time line logistics of the lab in delivering a result. That's very different from getting an initially positive result which requires a western blot for clarification.

[Ann]

Pixie,

If you are consistently getting false positive antibody results, and consistent negative Western Blot results (this is the second test you keep having to wait for), then there may be something else going on. Pregnancy and autoimmune diseases can both cause false positive antibody results, which are then proved false by the WB test.

If you know you're not pregnant, then you should make an appointment with your GP to explore the possibility that you may have an underlying, undiagnosed autoimmune disease. You may also just be one of those unfortunate people who gets false positives for no apparent reason, but it would be well worth your time and trouble to check out the autoimmune possibility. Good luck.

As long as your last test was done three months after your last incident of unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, then you are conclusively hiv negative. If it was six weeks or more, then it is highly unlikely to change when you get your conclusive result at three months.

Ann

[pixie]

Ann,

Thats great info, thanks! I'll book to see my GP as soon as I can.

x

[Ann]

You're welcome, Pixie. Good luck.

Ann