negative to positive tests

[stupidgirl12]

I'm in such a horrible situation right now.

I recently got a preliminary positive elisa. Yesterday, my doctor called and told me that the follow up western blot was negative.

My exposure was about 2 years ago (give or take a month). I have had NO other exposures since then. I tested using rapid tests 3 times before this last positive result (5,8,12 months post exposure), and all those were negative.

I understand that a western blot is the gold standard, but can it be wrong?
Can it miss and infection if its been too long since exposure?
Should I retest?

Thanks

[stupidgirl12]

Thank you again for all your help and reassurance. i'll try to get my mind past it..

[Vance2335]

No, I would be very thankful that the WB came out negative.

[stupidgirl12]

Thanks,Vance.
Last question...If a loved one received these results, would you recommend for them to retest?

[Vance2335]

No no different window period.
Yes, once you are positive you always test positive. Your not infected no reason to speculate anything further.

Rapid are meant to be quick so a smaller sample testing method was developed. Lab requires different testing procedure.

Accept it, you don't have HIV and you have the test to prove it.

[stupidgirl12]

The window period for a western blot isnt different from an elisa? Is it okay it was done like 2 years after the exposure?
Also, I had both an hiv1 and hiv2 western blot done. there was no bands. If I was infected, would at least 1 of the western blots be intermediate?

lastly, are rapid tests reliable? Would the 3 rapid tests i had done show up positive if there were antibodies present? How come those only use a small drop of blood, whereas for the lab ones, they draw a whole tube full?

[diver58]

There is always a possibility of "false positive" Elisa test, no matter how low it is, but it is there. This is the reason, a western blot test is always ordered whenever there is an Elisa comes positive. This golden test is done to confirm a real positive and rule out any false positive

[Vance2335]

It's really not that more complicated then that.

[stupidgirl12]

it seems a bit more complicated than that. A positive result is not simple by any means..there must have been a reason the test (a LAB based one, at that) was reactive..

[RainLover71]

The WB is the royal flush of HIV tests,if it's negative then you don't have HIV--it's that simple.

[stupidgirl12]

theres no way a western blot can miss an infection that an elisa caught? is the window period for a western blot different from an elisa?

[Sonia_Arjan]

all the more my advice is honorable. I researched extensively during my scare. Teak and nursegirl are not available all the time. Like Diver58 has reaffirmed, your result is conclusively negative. please move on. take care.

[diver58]

Response from Sonia was correct. Your WB test is conclusive and "overrides" the false positive Elisa reported earlier. You do not have HIV

[stupidgirl12]

Hi Sonia, thank you for the advice. however, seeing that you yourself went through an hiv scare, I don't think you are able to give honorable advice.

Can one of the long time experts please comment? Teak or nursegirl?
thanks

[Sonia_Arjan]

If you had no exposure after your last rapid test, it's highly likely the Elisa was a false positive. And furthermore, your negative western blot confirms this. You are conclusively negative. Use condoms always. Take care.