POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: imhelpless on July 06, 2013, 10:28:52 pm
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Hey,
I have a different scenario from others. I had sexual intercourse with one lady back in Jan 2012. After 3 weeks I had fever for 7 days with swollen lymph glands, Sweatpores on my head, White tongue. So i decided to take HIV test. Test results came back with +ve anti body and -ve westren blot. So i am scared and dipressed. Later on stages i dont have any fevers and any other issues except white tongue. I lost around 18lbs and gained same weight.
Due to fear i haven't met any doctor or any medical treatments. from last 16 months i don't have any symptoms other than White tongue.
from last 4 months i am having a little pain under my left rib cage. It comes and goes.
So i decided to take HIV test again.
I received the results toady. +ve anti body and negative western blot.
What does it really means?? If i have HIV, results need to shown after 6 months as positive.
In my case after 18 months also i am having same results. Do i really have HIV?
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Hi Helpless , It seems you have had a false positive on your antibody test , the western blot test is conclusive proof that you are HIV negative and the one to rely on .
Did you discuss this with the testing center or clinic where you had the test done ? What did they tell you ? . I find it hard to believe they didn't offer to explain it to you .
Please do not post outside of this thread . As a member of the AM I INFECTED forum you are only permitted to post in this one thread only . If you have trouble finding this thread , go to your profile and select show own post and it will take you here .
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i had my test in some lab in my town. They offer some tests without doctor prescription. So i had this test. They did not explain me any thing. They its not legal to discuss about the test results. So i am confused and scared. What are the chances for false positive? I am 27 Male
Sorry for the confusion. I am not going to post in other threads :(
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Its very odd to me that the test was preformed but discussing the results was not part of it , very odd .
The negative western blot test trumps the positive antibody test , so you can rely upon the western blot as proof you do not have HIV .
If you are uncomfortable with your test results then you may want to go get tested at a reputable clinic if you have access to one .
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I will go to hospital next week.
Do you know any specific reasons to get false positive results :(
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I will go to hospital next week.
Do you know any specific reasons to get false positive results :(
False positives occur for a number of reasons that range from bad testing equipment to certain medical conditions that have nothing to do with HIV .
I urge all people to only use clinics or hospitals that have training in HIV testing if they have access to them . It inexcusable that you had to leave a testing center not fully understanding the results or in doubt about your status .
Since you are sexually active you need to find a place that can do HIV testing as well as full STD panels so you can have a yearly sexual health check up . Its important to screen for all STD's because you can be infected with them for long periods of time unaware you are infected , so go get your checkup but expect your western blot HIV test to be negative over this incident .
Use condoms consistently and correctly for vaginal and anal sex and you will avoid exposure to HIV .
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Helpless,
The two main medical reasons for false hiv antibody results are pregnancy and an underlying, possibly undiagnosed, autoimmune condition. Obviously you're not pregnant, so you may want to see a doctor to discuss the possibility that you're dealing with an autoimmune condition.
Sometimes false positives just happen.
Whatever is going on with you has nothing to do with hiv. As Jeff told you, a negative WB result means you do NOT have hiv. The WB test is the gold standard for weeding out false positive antibody tests.
Again, you do NOT have hiv. You are conclusively hiv negative.
Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:
You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.
To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.
Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.
ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED FURTHER HIV TESTING AT THIS TIME, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.
If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.
Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann