HIV PREVENTION EXPERT FORUM
Confuse about test results

Confuse about test results

Hello doctor.
i've decided to post here because i still have some doubts of a situation that happened to me.  
i decided to test for hiv and first rapid test came out undetermined.  bio analyst said that control line appeared but the second one was barely noticeable.  that same day, i did an elisa teat which came out negative.

why i went for testing?
I simply got scared from my relations in 2011.  i have always used a condom but have perform ocassioanlly oral sex me being the giver.
I had protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral ( me being the giver) a week prior to the elisa, but girl tested negative 70 days after our relation
Unprotected oral 82 days before the elisa.
Protected vagianl 160 days before the elisa.

My questions are :
Is the elisa test conclusive for my relations prior to the latest one?
Does the elisa test nvalidates the rapid blood test that appeared undetermine or whatever?
Can i rule out my last relation given that use protection for vaginal and girl tested negative?
What can cause rapid test to be undetermined?  
would the elisa test detect the antibodies is rapid test show a barely seen fainted line?

From the forum of hiv prevention i feel confident that i had 'no risk' but that rapid test freaked me out and i want to know if i should rest or not.  and of course anwlswers to ky questions above.
thanks for your support
regards
Tags: HIV
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239123_tn?1267651214
Welcome fo the forum.  I'm happy to confirm the accurate replies you had on the HIV international and community forums.  You had a low to zero risk exposure, symtoms (symptoms) that did not suggest a new HIV infection, and negative tests that confirm you don't have HIV.  To your specific questions:

1) Your negative test results are conclusive for all the sexual exposures described.  In contrast to common advice about testing at 3 months, in fact 6-8 weeks usually is sufficient; here is a thread that discusses it:  http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/-A-Question-on-Testing/show/1347755

3) Your last partner's negative test plus use of condom proves you were not at risk.  For that reason, plus the reason above, you don't need any more HIV testing at this time.

2,4,5) Weakly false positive results are fairly common with the rapid tests, which is why lab-based tests are preferred unless an immediate answer is especially important.  Your later negative ELISA proves the rapid test was wrong; if the weakly positive rapid test were true, the ELISA would have detected antibodies.  The reasons the rapid tests sometimes give false positive or indeterminate results are unknown, but there are no known health implications.  The important thing for the future is that you avoid rapid tests if and when you need future HIV testing.

So congratulations; all is well.  I hope these comments are helpful--

HHH, MD

5 Comments
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Avatar_n_tn
I meant retest not rest in last paragraph.
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239123_tn?1267651214
Both versions are appropriate:  you should rest and not retest!
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Avatar_n_tn
Thanks for your kind and timely response.  you have no idea how much i appreciate this.
regards,
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239123_tn?1267651214
Glad to have helped; thanks for the thanks.  Now move on, ignoring any and all additional "what if" scenarios that may come to mind.
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