What can delay detection of antibodies?

[Kowalski]

Hi everyone!

Got a question on what can delay the production of antibodies by the imune system?

What are the factors? For instance can the following delay the production:

- other infections like flu
- being a heavy smoker for a long time (it does weaken your immune system)
- having a weak imune system in all (someone that easily cachtes colds, flus ets)

In all also a general quastion. What does the immune system influence? If somone has a weak immune system would he seroconver faster or slower? Would he develop antibodies faster then others or slower then others? Would he have the symptoms faster or slower then others?

Just wondering on all of these possibilites. Also another question:

Pressuming someone has a very weak immune system, can he still not be infected by saliva? Or for instance a small drop of blood could be sufficiant enough for transmision?

[Xhost]

Brian,

Nice to hear from you. Hope all is well with you, too. How ya been?

[Brian123]

Saw your comment...your should be a writer if you are not one now.
Hope all is well.

Xhost/Teak/RegularJoe...hope all is well..and wishing you all the best this Holiday Season.

[Kowalski]

Thanks for the answer. I understand, but....(there alway is a but):)

Why is it in that case that some people seroconvert later and others do it sooner? My guess till now is because of the efficiancy of theire immune system. That means the stronger immune system someone has he will seroconver sooner, because his body would "try to fight" the virus as soon as possible. Say in a week. If somone has a weaker immune system his body will not recognize the virus for a longer period of time, so he will seroconvert later. Say in 5 weeks. Correct me if I am wrong:)

People for instance that are heavy smokers for a longer period of time have usually a weaker immune system, so they would seroconvert later....just trying to follow up the thinking:)

Just on the margine. I am rather not worried anymore about that I might be invected. Recieving oral sex, negative test at 4 weeks....I have a much bigger chance of having a car crash tomorow morning and die becouse of it. I am just looking into it out of interest more then my own worries. Any case many of the 85 proc people testing positive in the 4 weeks period have to have a weaker immune system then I do (especially the ones that got it from drug use). So that does not worry me.

There has to be a reason why some people seroconver later then overs (the 1-6 weeks). That I guesse has to be the body efficiancy. I am just wondering what are those reasons.

(sorry for not ussing spellcheck)

[Xhost]

When talking about the suppression of antibodies in response to some bodily infection (and HIV would certainly be an infection of the body), we are speaking about an almost catastrophic failure of the immune system in the body.

The immune system is typically fairly tuned into what is going on in the body. In fact, that is its whole job. It senses a foreign body, and goes to work attacking, defeating and removing it from the body. For the most part, it is remarkably efficient in doing its job.

The only things that might keep it from doing its job properly fall into the following categories:

1. Stealth illnesses: cancer might be considered among the stealth illnesses, as it involves abnormal cells in residence in the body, yet seemingly (in some cases) not recognized as such by the body and removed. Some cancer research is currently working this angle, in an attempt to force the immune system into recognition of tumors and then removing them. However, this does not apply to your question, so let's move on.

2. Extreme attenuation of systemic functions: Advanced cancer, prolonged and chronic drug abuse (typically intravenous drug use), organ transplant (when the immune system is typically intentionally suppressed to avoid rejection of newly transplanted organs), etc.

3. Immunological disorders: bubble boy syndrome, HIV, etc. Again, this only indirectly applies to your question.

Now, as to your questions about a "weak immune system". I am not sure how you have quantified that you may have a weak immune system. You get colds, or the flu? Everyone does that. And, the symptoms you are feeling in such cases are as a result of your immune system (and your body as a whole) attempting to fight off an illness. Hardly a sign of a "weak" immune system. The sign of a truly weak immune system is if you were, perhaps, to catch the flu, have no symptoms, and then just drop dead.

So, what was the question?

Oh. "If somone has a weak immune system would he seroconver faster or slower?"

If someone's body were compromised to the point that the immune system was non-responsive to acts of viral or bacterial aggression, it would also mean that said immune system would not manufacture antibodies. Thus, there would likely be no physical maladies associated with HIV infection. And, turning positive on an HIV antibody test would surely be delayed, if it happened at all.

Having said that, we are talking about situations that correlate closely with  catastrophic failures of bodily systems, which is mostly indicative of impending death. Thus, if you were in this category, you would certainly know it. Which is to say, you would not be asking questions about it on some Internet forum, if you were able to sit up and type on a keyboard at all.

Get what I am saying?