Elisa negative , WB one weak band

[nehalem]

Dear doctor I am really confused and deperate I had unprotected sex with a s+ boy about 6 months ago ... I have had 8 elisa combo in the last months ( all negative ). One week ago I took another elisa test and a western blot togheter ... The elisa test came back negative but the WB results was not so clear :

ANTICORPI ANTI HIV 1 e 2 ASSENTI ASSENTI C.L.I.A.
ANTIGENE P24 HIV 1/2 ASSENTI ASSENTI C.L.I.A.
RICERCA ANTICORPI ANTI HIV 1-2 WESTERN BLOT
IGG ANTI-GAG P55 ASSENTI  
" " GAG P24 ASSENTI  
" " GAG P17 ASSENTI
" " POL P66 ASSENTI
" " POL P51 ASSENTI
" " POL P31 ASSENTI  
" " ENV GP160 ASSENTI
" " ENV GP120 ASSENTI  
" " ENV GP41 DEB.PRES.

I had Herpes genitalis the day of the test.
There is a weak band in correspondence of the gp41.
Do you think it is possible after 6 moths ? Am I HIV positive ? Do I need to retest ?
Thank you very much.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  Sorry for the long delayed response, but you originally posted this question in the Living with HIV forum, which is restricted to questions from and about people with known HIV infection.  That forum is infrequently used and not routinely scanned by the moderators.  Sorry!  Your question has now been transferred to the proper forum.

My main advice is that you should have stopped while you were ahead!  There is never any valid reason to continue testing for HIV once standard antibody testing, or duo testing for antibody and p24 antigen, are negative more than 4-6 weeks after exposure.  Also, I have to wonder why a Western blot test was done. Did you request it out of nervousness or anxiety?  Normally WB is done only if the initial ELISA is positive.

In any case, your results indicate you don't have HIV.  False positive or equivocal WB tests occur from time to time -- which is why they are not supposed to be done unless ELISA is positive.  A positive p41 band, by itself, is never due to HIV infection.

So you should not be worried at all.  Your herpes outbreak at the time of the test is irrelevant; it had nothing to do with this test result.  And no, it is not possible you have HIV that first showed up 6 months later.  You are not HIV positive and do not need any further testing.

I hope this has been helpful.  And apologies again for the delayed reply.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As I said to start, you should have left well enough alone!  The WB has only caused you more anxiety and uncertainty, which was unnecessary.  The tests before that were 100% conclusive that you did not have HIV.

A lesson to other users:  If your standard HIV test(s) have given negative results more than 4-6 weeks after your last possible exposure (depending on the exact test or combination of thests you had), you can be sure you don't have HIV, regardless of how high risk your exposure might have been and regardless of what symptoms you have, no matter how typical for HIV they seem to be.  Do not have an HIV Western blot in these circumstances.

Good luck to you.

[nehalem]

Thank you very much for your answer Doctor , I am feeling a little bit better now
The reasons why I decided to have a WB test are :
1) My boyfriend is s+ and we have had unprotected sex several time ( last date October 18th )
2) I thought that I could have infected my boyfriend (this was very stressful)
2) I live in a small town ( south part of Italy ) and I don't trust my doctor ( he told me to wait 6 months at least )
3) Some labs do not even know what kind of test they use ( 3rd or 4th gen ) and what is the difference between  antigen and antibody !!!
4) I have had lot of symptoms during these months ( burning sensation of my lymph nodes was the most worrisome and I still feel this fastidous sensation )
5) folliculitis over my quadriceps for two months ( still have it )
6) I had congenital microcytemia and I had one episode of herpes zoster two years ago.
7) I thought my immune system is weak and unable to produce antibodies
I hope to find some peace now.
Thank very much for your help.