Positive ECLIA combination test

[needanswers1111]

I had a low-risk (or no risk) exposure last July 14, 2012. It was protected sex and unprotected oral with a CSW (I am a straight male). I was told that I never had to test since it was a no risk exposure, but I still did to alleviate my anxiety.

On September 9 (7 weeks after incident), I took a NAT test and it turned out negative. I am aware that this test looks for the virus itself and will be accurate after 2 weeks since exposure. I was already confident but to completely rule out HIV, I waited for 3 months for an antibody test.

Yesterday October 12 (13 weeks after incident), I took an ECLIA test and was told that it was reactive at 4 point something value. In my country, they have to send it out to our capital city for confirmatory Western Blot test which I have to wait 4 weeks for the results to come in.

I'm really confused right now. Was it a false positive ECLIA test? Was it a false negative NAT test? I'm not sure if it didn't sink in to me yet or I'm just used to this feeling of anxiety. Please help me put things in to perspective. :(

[Teak]

Move on, the OP didn't have an exposure.

[sms180]

Yes, influenza vaccine can cause a false-positive HIV-antibody test. you can find more in the net

[Teak]

Move on, you do not have an HIV concern.

[needanswers1111]

I just dug up my files and found an ABBOTT card, it states that I had a flu vaccine last June 7, 2012. I already forgot about this. Could this have contributed to the false positive result?

[Teak]

You didn't need testing you never had an exposure.

[needanswers1111]

Thank you bigboss.

@nursegirl: im confused wether i retake on a different lab or wait for 4weeks for the wb

[nursegirl6572]

What are you confused about??

[bigboss123]

Calm down man. It is a fales positive. That sometimes happens. It just sucks it happened to you. Dont worrie. I gaurentee you when everything gets sorted out. You will not have anything to worrie about.

If what you are saying your risk was. You do not have HIV. Hold tight get this stratened out.

[needanswers1111]

im so confused now

[needanswers1111]

i hope you are right. the waiting time is killing me. :(

[nursegirl6572]

If that's the only exposure you had, the WB won't be positive.

[needanswers1111]

they're sending it out for WB confirmatory as a protocol/routine. if it comes back positive, they said i'd definitely be positive. but how come, if my NAT was negative?

[nursegirl6572]

This is (another) classic example of why we never recommend testing for a NO risk exposure, because false +'s DO happen, for many reasons.  You've now put yourself through all kinds of unnecessary stress.

You don't need a WB test, because you couldn't have gotten HIV from what you've described.  

He doesn't need to take more tests, home tests, nothing.  He needs to deal with his anxiety and put this behind him, once and for all.

[needanswers1111]

for the past three months i've been so down. i thought i was finally gonna get over it. and now this ='(

[needanswers1111]

how common is it? what are the things that could make it false positive?

[RainLover71]

every now and then and HIV test will throw out a false positive but it's no big deal because they will follow it up with a WB or RNA.

[needanswers1111]

would you know what factors contribute to a false positive eclia result? anyone here can shed a light regarding this question pls?

[Teak]

Then you never had an exposure as you were told and didn't need testing.

[needanswers1111]

what i stated was what happened. no more, no less.

[Teak]

2 things.

1. False positive
OR
2. You lied about your exposure because you never had a risk.

[needanswers1111]

So what does the positive eclia test mean to you?

[Teak]

You never had an exposure.