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Why does it take so long for me (1 year) to get the hiv tested positive?

(Sorry, english is my foreign language)

Why does it take so long for me (1 year) to get the hiv tested positive?

Dear doctor, this is my case

15/jun/2018:
29/jun/2018:
04/july/2018:
25/july/2018:
19/march/2019:
Murex hiv ag/ab
Sd bioline hiv 1/2
Vikia hiv 1/2

Inconclusive

05/april/2019:

Murex hiv ag/ab
Sd bioline hiv 1/2
Vikia hiv 1/2
Western blot
Positive

Could you please tell me about my case, positive after 3 consequence inconclusive , why it takes so long, i thought 3 months is enough? THANK you
4 Responses
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3191940 tn?1447268717
Western blot is no longer the recommended confirmatory test.  It is highly unlikely that you are HIV-positive after all of those negative antibody tests.  You need to have a viral load test.
Helpful - 1
4 Comments
Is that true? Western blot is used as confirmation test in my country. My doctor said i am hiv positive as my western blot test was positive in 5 April, although my combination of 3 tests was indeterminate yesterday 15 May
There is no purpose in asking if this is true right after you were told. No one is lying to you.
Sorry, i am not intended to offend, it is just my suprise to say that.
I am not trying to offend either, so no problem. Good luck.
188761 tn?1584567620
Yes. It is PCR RNA.

A western blot can't have just a positive or negative result, it will have detailed findings. I am not sure why would you not have the details I asked for in your WB result.

Perhaps you should just get a PCR RNA HIV-1 for most accurate result.

If you writing to us from West Africa or your partner had any relevancy to that part of the world, you must consider PCR RNA NAT for HIV 1&2.
Helpful - 0
7 Comments
I am from vietnam. I took the pcr test a week ago and will get the result after 3 to 4 weeks. My doctor asks me to take arv immediately as he believe Western blot result is 100% correct and as i should have take the arv treatment a year ago. He said that pcr test return hiv status only, and that if i wanna know viral load, i have to take another test. I am really confused. Should i take arv for treatment immediately or wait for pcr result? Should i take another test to record my viral load? Thank you.
Was your WB result positive or indeterminate?
Positive wb
15 april: positive wb
15 may: combination of 3 test: indeterminate te
You should continue working with your doctors.  Neither this, nor any online forum is an appropriate venue to get diagnostic and treatment plans for major medical issues.  I am surprised your doctor has not ordered a viral load test prior to placing you on medication, but this is a conversation that should be only between you and your infectious disease specialist.
If you are indeed positive, there is some disconnect in the information you have provided in context to the time of your exposure and time you tested positive.

Since you are unable to provide us with the information on the bands that have reacted, we can't comment much on the accuracy of the WB test.  Generally, western blot is a very reliable test, it was discontinued as a confirmatory test not for it's effectiveness but only due to the tedious process of laying out each band to confirm it's reactivity.

I agree with CurfewX, you would have to see your doctor for the right course of action from here because any advice on this or any such medical forum can't be a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis and advice.

I would definitely suggest you go for a second opinion, you will need an RNA test irrespective of everything said and done, as it will not only confirm your sero-status but also will provide you with your viral load.
Today i have the pcr test result. It indicates my viral load 5.13×10^2. The doctor confirm i am hiv positive. Thank you all.
188761 tn?1584567620
If you were indeed HIV positive you most probably would not have tested indeterminate on antibody test after 1 year of your exposure.

As told to you before, one of the potential reasons for indeterminate HIV antibody tests might be due to the presence of nonspecific cross-reacting antibodies.

I need to know what bands on your Western Blot test came back reactive. To understand this further, the major antibody specificities detected in HIV-1 WB analysis include gp160, gp120, p65, p55, gp41, p40, p31 and p24, which of these came back reactive?

Or, if you are unable to answer the above, as suggested earlier, just get an RNA - Quantitative Analysis test, this test will look for the core viral RNA and if you do have HIV infection, it will also record your viral load.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
The doctor gave me a paper of result showing positive / indeterminate with no details, so I dont know more than what I said above.
One more question please, is that RNA - Quantitative Analysis test PCR test?
188761 tn?1584567620
1. What was your exposure?

2. The date of exposure?

3. The minimal criteria for a positive western
blot is reactivity to at least 2 of the 3 following
bands (p24, gp41, and gp120/160). Did you suffice this criteria?

I strongly feel an antibody to some other infection might be interfering with your HIV result because that's what your test result patterns are suggesting.

You need to work with your doctor and get an HIV quantitative analysis / RNA test.
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
I had an anal sex without condom under 1 minutes a year ago. A week later, i had combination of 3 tests and the result is inconclusive. I took 4 another tests during last year and the results was inconclusive. 15 april i took western blot test and the result is posituve. yesterday i took combination of 3 tests ànd the result is inconclusive.
Reread this advice. Good luck with the RNA.
"I strongly feel an antibody to some other infection might be interfering with your HIV result because that's what your test result patterns are suggesting. You need to work with your doctor and get an HIV quantitative analysis / RNA test. "
Thank you. I will ask my doctor to do the test for me.
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