Surrogate mom with questions re indeterminate tests

My situation is a little different and I'm hoping you can help. I am about to become a surrogate mom to my 2 good friends, a gay male couple, married for 18 yrs. We just had all of our blood work done, and one of the men got an indeterminate result on his Elisa test. His Western blot and viral load were both negative. His partner also had a neg Elisa and WB; he has not had the viral load test done yet. Previous to this, both men have a history of negative results. From my understanding, both men practice safe sex with each other, and are monogomous in regards to high risk activities...I think occasionally they may participate in masturbation, hand jobs, in steam rooms. The guy with the indeterminate result is now being treated for Lyme disease, because of his symptoms...4 weeks of fatigue, achiness, and because he has spent a lot of time in an area with lots of ticks.

Is it safe for me to get impregnated by this guy? How likely is it that Lyme can cause an indeterminate result on the Elisa? We were planning to use IUI and home insems to get preg, btw?

Any advice you have would be great since I'm not sure how to proceed.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are right, this is an unusual question.  There are many reasons for having indeterminant HIV tests. There is no evidence that I am aware of that Lyme disease causes persons to have false positive HIV tests.  With a negative viral load and Western blot you know that he does not have HIV and can go on with your artificial insemination plans. If his indeterminate was due to the fact that he was developing antibodies to recently acquired HIV, both of those tests would be positive.   EWH

p.s.  BTW, what is IUI?  (Intrauterine insemination?)

[karenna]

Yes, an IUI is intrauterine insemination. From what Ive read, this process also virtually eliminates the risk of being infected with HIV anyway, since the HIV is carried in the semen, not the sperm.

Would you mind telling me what some of the causes of an indeterminate Elisa test are?

Thank you so much; this forum is truly a wonderful resource.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sorry, there are many, many casues of interdetminant HIV tests.  They occur when someone has an antibody which reacts with one of several proteins (peptides) which are included in the EIA tests.  The origin of these antibodies could be from some other infection, an allergy, a medication or just plan bad luck.  In some peole the interderminant state is transient, in others it is lifelong.  EWH

[karenna]

Thanks again. Like so many things in life, this one has no 100% answer, but I appreciate your taking the time. I am going to continue along with the plans.