onlineagain

[justreadsomethingscary]

I just got myself settled down when I went to The Body.  A site that I respect and read a story in the women's section about a woman who's husband died of AIDS.  When he was first tested he tested negative but was sick and when he tested again he tested positive.  She felt that was because he was tested in Mexico.  She then came to America and in Nov tested Negative and then tested positive in January.  They had been married for two years and she felt her husband probably had it for a long time.  I know you can't answer the question as to why she tested negative and then positive but it is a scary thought.  I had a negative test after three months and was settling into the fact that indeed I don't have HIV.  I am sure you are sick of these questions but one more assurance and I will not send another question.  One negative test outside the window period means unequivocably you are hiv negative right?  Yeas later without anyother exposures I won't all of a sudden test positive?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

these tests are negative.  You do not have HIV.  

This ends this thread.  EWH

[justreadsomethingscary]

last question I promise.  
HIV-1 Antibody Test with Reflex to Western Blot Confirmation <1.00 <1.00 Negative 04/28/2010 04/29/2010
HIV 1/O/2 Abs, Qual HIV 1/O/2 Abs, Qual Non Reactive Non Reactive Negative 04/28/2010 04/29/2010
What type of HIV does this test scree for and would the Western blot caught any false negative?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

COPD is not associated with false positive HIV tests.  The topic of false positves and why they occur is very, very complex.  The reasons that some people have false positve tests for HIV is unknown.  In all likelyhood there is not a single reason but multiple causes with the common feature that for some reason, these persons antibodies react with some of the antigens (proteins) used to make some HIV tests.  Sorry I don't have an simpler answer.  EWH

[justreadsomethingscary]

P.S.  Looking through these forums I have come to believe that you and Dr. HHH are angels for standing this craziness day in and day out.

[justreadsomethingscary]

One more question unrelated to the first question.  I will start a new thread if you wish just say so.  What sorts of thins cause a false positive.  Would having copd cause that to occur?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thiat is correct.  EWH

[justreadsomethingscary]

I geuss if there were any possibility of false negatives for such an important disease  the recomendation would be to test multiple times and hiv would be far more common?  Last comment.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Unequivocally?  no.  Things happen.  Just as people occasionally are hit by lightening, every once in a while laboratories mess up or test kits are improperly handled and fail to perform as designed.  How often does that happen, so rarely that when it does it is BIG news.  Should you have confidence in a single test, yes.  If your anxiety means you need affirmation,   get tested again.  I am confident if you do however, your result, given the situation you describe, will almost certainly be negative again.  

If your anxiety does drive you to test again however, please promise yourself (and me) that you will believe the next result when it confirms that you do not have HIV.

One additonal suggestion.  Stop searching the internet.  It is full of incorrect information, partial truths and things which are alarming mostly becasue they fail to present the entire story or take things out of context.  

I hope this comment helps.  EWH