Minocycline and HIV Test

[hypochondriac87]

I know that you have already answered questions about antibiotics affecting HIV tests, but I wanted to ask this specific question. I am on 50mg of Minocycline twice a day, every day, on a long term basis for acne. When I searched the internet, I found a handful of results about Minocycline affecting HIV patients. I don't really understand what the connection was, but I wanted to know if I could trust my HIV test results even though I am on Minocycline, and was for months before, during, and after my HIV test.

Also, just to ease my mind, is there ANYTHING else that could effect the validity of an HIV test (aspirin, menstrual cycle, diet, anything)?

Thank you so much in advance, I really appreciate your help.

P

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I guess you missed my comment about the internet.  You have taken an abstract paper describing test tube experiments in which the authors then guessed that this might be a useful adjunct to HIV therapy and applied it to an entirely different situation.  I repeat, there is no evidence OR REASON to think that minocycline or other antibiotics would change the likelyhood of developing a positve HIV test, if infected.  

Rather than continue to feed your anxiety by explaining the facts and not having that advice listened to, I think it is time for this thread to end.  I hope you will heed my earlier advice and stop trolling the internet.  it is not doing you any good and through fueling your unwarranted anxiety, is working to your disadvantage.  EWH

[hypochondriac87]

I'm sorry, Doctor, but if I could just ask you one more thing;

This is the article I had found discussing minocycline said that "Johns Hopkins scientists have found that a safe and inexpensive antibiotic in use since the 1970s for treating acne effectively targets infected immune cells in which HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, lies dormant and prevents them from reactivating and replicating" (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100319202528.htm)

Could the fact that it suppresses infected immune cells mean anything to my HIV test?

Thank you so much for your patience.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help.  Take care.  EWH

[hypochondriac87]

Thank you so much for your quick response. Some of the articles I read seemed to imply that Minocycline could be used to treat HIV patients. When I read this, I thought perhaps it would suppress HIV antibodies, but I can logically see I am over-thinking this. I will take your advice to heart, firstly that there are no antibiotics that will impact HIV results, and secondly that I should stop searching the internet for every little thing. Thank you so much again.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I will try to help but it will be difficult if you keep using the internet as an information source.  Your situation, like that of many of our clients represents a great example of the power of the internet not only to inform but also to mislead.  While there is much useful information available on the internet, much of it is also taken out of context or a bit unbalanced and some of it is just plain wrong.

I am not aware of any information that suggests that minocycline, or for that matter, any other antibiotic acts to either increase risk for HIV acquisition or would modify the performance of tests for HIV.  Current tests for HIV look for antibodies.  Antibody production in response to infection is not changed by antibiotics, menses or any of the other factors.  The results of HIV antibody tests are to be believe. These tests are amongst the best standardized an most sensitive blood tests there are.  

I hope my comment is helpful to you.  EWH

[hypochondriac87]

Just to add, I hope I'm not annoying you with this questions. Logically, I'm smarter than this. But my anxiety gets the best of me. And I know you've answered questions regarding antibiotics before, but there was a plethora of articles on the internet about a connection between Minocycline and HIV, so I feel it is a different question. Thank you so much.