Does biotin interfere with HIV tests?

[ibeca11]

I've been taking biotin supplements, can I trust my results?
I've read that biotin can interfere with immunoassays, making false results: https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/generalendocrinology/68137

[mike_no]

HIV antibody tests looks for body's immune response to the viral infection, this response is called antibodies. Any amount of biotin when consumed can't suppress the body's capability to produce antibodies. III generation and above tests are so sensitive that even slight amount of antibodies present in the body can be easily detected. Most of the time, antibodies are detected even much before the window period, when tested for diagnosis. Therefore, the assumption that presence biotin in human body can avoid detection of HIV is void.  Food for thought, the only way antibody production can be suppressed is by obstructing the replication process of the virus, which can be only caused by ARV drugs and not biotin.

This forum serves to address concerns related to HIV prevention. The idea of discussing what-if's and might be's are strongly not encouraged here since this is an high anxiety forum, any wrong information can spark a lot of stress amongst worried wells.

There are a couple of concerns here, first, you have hijacked someone's thread. Second, you never stated what was your risk for assessment. If you have a legitimate risk, please start your own thread, we will be happy to support you with an evaluation.

At this point, nor there is concrete data available to decisively make a statement that biotin can cause false positive neither it is logical to make that assumption by any means as explained above. Thus, this concludes the thread right here.

[cleanmachine516]

Hi Mike, I did not try to hijack anyone's thread. It has been years since I have been on this site. I am not a computer whiz and when I got on this site somehow I was able to post and that is what I did. As stated above, I am just looking for information which Curfex & Chima addressed. My risks are unprotected sex in country and out for quite awhile. I heard that Biotin might have an impact on the AG/AB Hiv Test and wanted to talk to the pro's about it. I don't know how to start my own thread, if you would like to help me start one, I will.  Thanks

[Kirstie_MHModerator]

Since the question has been fully and completely answered, there's no need to start a new thread.  We're glad to hear you got the answers you were seeking.

********* THREAD CLOSED **********

[cleanmachine516]

Chima, I have seen some of the nonsense you are talking about, (ie. I looked at a tooth brush infected with hiv , will i get it? ). I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE GUYS. I AM A MARINE, VIETNAM VETERAN, WHO WANTS AN ANSWER - PERIOD-THE -END. Where did Hook & Dr. HHH state that. If you could Cut & Paste or something like that, and send that stuff here, I would definitely appreciate it and probably a lot of other people will also, if not please tell me where it is listed so i can see it myself-thanks -excuse the typing & spelling this took me 20 min. to type. Oh, just so you know-my risks are extensive and real.

[cleanmachine516]

See, The time it took me to type my reply, you guys posted a couple of answers. Curfew, You just posted that the tests that are on the market now, like the Ab/Ag have fixed the problem and conclusive . I hope your right.

[CurfewX]

ALL of the warning information related to tests & biotin discuss "massive" amounts that would be achieved only by deliberate supplementation in 5,000-10,000 mcg dosage.  The half life of biotin is 2 hours, so if you're taking massive supplementation (which isn't generally recommended), the longest you'd need to abstain from taking it is 8 hours prior to testing.  Again, HIV testing is not mentioned - this is for your peace of mind only.

[cleanmachine516]

Thanks Curfew, Yeah there was one site , from some doctor or agency , that I read on here (the web) that said any immunoassay testing was sensitive to Biotin and it listed the tests or atleast some of them and showed if it increased the result or decreased the result - The HIV AG/AB test was listed and said it DECREASED the result. I don't know where you guys get your information but I am sure it's more reliable than mine. I literally was on here all day researching the subject and got no where. If you could ask your source, doctor or FDA etc. a couple of questions I would appreciate it. I don't want to spread this stuff if i am really pos instead of neg....QUESTION: with my vitamins and food intake - 400 MCG-OK no fasting -OK ???

[CurfewX]

This is one of the largest, most trusted laboratories in the US.  ALL references to interference with testing refer to megadoses exceeding 5000 mcg, which you're not even close to. https://education.questdiagnostics.com/faq/FAQ202

[cleanmachine516]

So, in other words, there is nothing that we can do about it. I guess "Fasting" etc. won't help until they fix their problems - right ?? Are there any tests that we can use to find out for sure that either we are + or - Thanks again.

[CurfewX]

Any test that is currently on the market taken at the right time will give you a conclusive result. Please read Chima7's comment above.  HIV expert physicians have spoken on this previously.

[Chima7]

People have asked both Dr. Hook and Dr. HHH whether biotin interferes with HIV tests, and both have said no. And in fact they expressed annoyance with the people who have asked because those people had no risk for HIV exposure in the first place and they, like you, kept frantically searching for all kinds of nonsense online to argue with them about their experience and knowledge. So, you can either take the word of world renowned HIV experts or you can continue spinning in circles of your own making which will create nothing but more unnecessary anxiety for you. It's your choice.

[cleanmachine516]

The best that i can do for you, or at least what i got out of all the investigating is: the FDA and some other agencies say, large amounts of Biotin may affect the tests, but they never give you a number and they always say "additives" they never mention foods that also have Biotin , do you figure in the food or not?  Any way I also hope there is someone out there that has an answer...thanks

[CurfewX]

I would love to see your citations for biotin being a problem, because none of the HIV experts who post ever mention biotin as potentially interfering with HIV tests.  Additionally, just using common sense, if normal dietary consumption of biotin were a concern, it would be ALL OVER the testing instructions, indicating that serum biotin should be measured prior to testing.  If biotin legitimately interfered with testing, one would expect to see those who have tested conclusively negative turn up later in clinics with symptoms of HIV-induced AIDS symptoms, because the tests weren't accurate.  That isn't happening.   There is no point in scare-mongering when there is no evidence-based information to support what you have read on the internet.

[Paxiled]

I did a quick internet search because I never heard of this, but it appears to be true that high levels of serum biotin will interfere with many lab tests.  Don't know if that includes HIV testing or not.  A lot of people use biotin for hair and skin problems, which is why I checked.  So it is a thing for immunoassay tests but again, don't know if that includes HIV testing.  Some people have suffered big problems because their tests came out wrong and they were misdiagnosed, but again, this wasn't HIV testing.  Someone ought to find out about this.

[cleanmachine516]

I am legitimately looking for an answer. I did not come on here looking to start a "Scare War", I am just looking for an answer. I have driven myself into a frenzy just looking for an answer but cannot find it. On other sites there is talk of Biotin being a problem, I noticed it and figured I would find out , that is not easy cause there doesn't seem to be an answer. I wish someone like Dr. HHH could come on here and give us a "cut off amount", this way we could "fast" or whatever it takes to be prepared for the test. YES, I would expect there to be "Big notices on the tests" and there are on one or two of them but that's it. I took my test at a VA Hospital and was told there was no prep and no questions etc. I asked and was given it right after breakfast. PLEASE If you can , have Dr. HHH post a quote on this site and tell us all.......Thank you

[Paxiled]

Oh, the reason appears to be the labs are using a biotin pathway for their testing, or so it appears.  It would seem to me to be prudent to get your doc to test your biotin levels before getting tested for anything just in case.  It's not the biotin that's the problem, as it's water soluble and safe, it's the method used in the testing that uses that pathway, or so it seems.

[CurfewX]

Yes, you can trust your results, as long as you took the right test at the right time.  The only potential interference would happen if you were on powerful drugs that suppress the immune system, such as chemotherapy.  Nothing you can buy over the counter would interfere with your HIV test results.

[ibeca11]

But the FDA now says to avoid taking biotin before tests... have you read about that? (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm586641.htm)
it's been proved that biotin does interfere with hormones tests, but I was wondering about HIV...

[AnxiousNoMore]

HIV is not a hormone test. What was your HIV risk?

[ibeca11]

Yes, it's not, but HIV is also a immunoassay that use the same methods... my risk was vaginal sex.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Did you use a condom?

[ibeca11]

That's the problem... I'm not sure :(