Positive then negative

[thankmygod]

Doctor

I tested reactive on a Insti test 3 months after an unprotected exposure with a CSW in Thailand - I had every typical symptom including fever and headaches for c 2-3weeks and an outbreak of hives.

A follow-up Duo was reactive but a Western Blot was indeterminate  - p24 detected and undetected for p17, sgp105, sgp120, gp41, p31and gp36.  My doctor said this is a confirmed negative result.

My doctor then suggested as a precaution I have a lymphocyte count which came back as a CD4 of 1653 and a CD4% of 54%.  My doctor now says there is simply no way someone could ahve HIV and have a CD4% this high which is reassuring.

Should I get a pcr to be on the safe side?
Is my CD4% enough to enable me to move on?

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your PCR is negative.  You do not have HIV. No further testing is needed.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The net is wrong and a great place to get mis-information.  Believe your doctor.  While some people who develop psoriasis have HIV, most by far do not. You know you do not have HIV- you have definitive test results that show you don't.  Stop cruising the internet; you are getting more misinformation from it than good information.  Stick with your doctor.  EWH

[symptomsstill]

Doctor

I have now been diagnosed with psoriasis - skin and arthritic - this has come out of the blue which I understand to be relatively unusual.  My dermatologist believes it not to be HIV related but I have read on the net that psoriasis is most certainly caused by HIV on occasions.  I have had no subsequent risks.  Do you suggest further testing in relation to HIV?

Many thanks

[testworries]

I today received my PCR result:

DNA - negative for gag, pol and LTR

do you still suggest I test in 6 months or is this conclusive?

thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm confident it will be negative.  Pleasse share your results when they are available.  EWH

[symptomsstill]

I took a PCR test at a private clinic today - results due back in 5 days

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thanks for the clarification.  I suspect your assessment is correct and the path you outline is the same one I would follow.  FYI, some people have these false positve/indeterminant experiences transiently, others have it life long.  You may want to repeat this series of tests in 6 months simply for your own future reference rather than putting yourself through hell again in the future if there is another time when it becomes appropriate for you to have an HIV test.  EWH

[symptomsstill]

Thanks - comments are helpful

I wanted to be sure of my result so the Western Blot was performed at the John Hunter Clinic in UK, London which is part of the Chelsea and Westimster Hospital (do you know it).  They claim to be one of the world's leading labs specialising in HIV so I think I will bank my result as I've gone through hell recently and I want to put it behind me.

I even asked them for a PCR and the Consultant said no need so I'd have to go privately to progress things.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sorry, I am not familiar with the test that you describe (Insti) however what you seem to have had was a reactive screening test (the Insti and the Duo) followed by failure to confirm it using an indeterminate Western blot.  The purpose of the Western blot is to rule out false positive tests results and, if performed in a quality lab, tells you that you do not have HIV.

Your PCd4 count is well within the normal range but this can happen even to persons with early HIV infection.

If you are comfortable with the lab that you used for the test, then you should acknowledge that you had a false positive test and no further testing is needed. If you have doubts about the lab, either testing in another lab using newly acquired specimens or a PCR will help to show that you do not have HIV.   That is about all I can say in the absence of knowing your lab and its tests which is just not possible.  I hope this comment is helpful.  EWH