HIV western blot?

[Need_Info]

Does anyone know what the accuracy of the western blot test is? I went to a support services clinic and they tested me for HIV (oral test) for free and the results were that the first part of the test search for antibodies was positive and then the Western blot was negative...any info on this?

[Teak]

Means you're negative.

[Brad_]

The only way you are diagnosed with HIV is with a combination of a positive antibody test and a positive western blot to confirm.

Your WB is negtaive so you are negative.

[regularjoey]

Oral tests give lots of false positives, that is probably what this is.  

[Thankful613]

It probably is a false negative, but it could mean that you tested within the window period.  You should get a follow up test in about 4 weeks time to make sure.

[Thankful613]

Sorry, I meant false positive.  You are probably negative, but retest to make sure.

[regularjoey]

A retest is needed only if Need_info did anything risky in the 3 months prior to the test.  

[Need_Info]

Thanx...I plan on getting tested again....im actually a paranoid person so when they called with those results i started panicking.......but about a month before that I got a blood test from my actual doctor and it was negative.


I just ended up getting tested there because it was free so I said what the hell I might as well.....My risky period was around November of last year tho...so I figured Im out of the window period too.

[regularjoey]

Yes, you're fine. Actually no reason to test again at all. False positives are common (relatively) with Oraquicks.  That is what's going on, without a doubt.