Pregnancy False Positive - help

[Tawa20242050roger]

My wife is in her third trimester of pregnancy. With our first child she tested negative for HIV. With the current pregnancy she tested negative in the first trimester but in third trimester she has now tested “abnormal” on the ab and negative for antigen on the fourth generation test. The dr said come in for more tests, We are freaking out. We are married 10 years, monogamous, no drug use, etc. I even took a rapid test and an official fourth generation blood test myself right away (both negative) to cancel any doubts.

The dr called to now say the lab took the sample and ran it through a different test which is negative so no need to worry or come in for more testing. I am so anxious about all this I have been pouring over the labs and researching to be very sure about this. It looks like this lab (a reputable one) ordered a RNA PCR test which per my research was not the right step, they should have ordered a antibody differential and only then a RNA PCR test if needed.

I’m so anxious, my questions are, is this testing sufficient? Is it okay they used the original sample to do more testing? What do I do

[CurfewX]

It isn't unexpected that she tested abnormal/positive while pregnant. This is a known limitation of the antibody detection test. The RNA PCR test is the next correct step following a positive or indeterminate antibody test.

Given her apparent lack of exposure to the HIV virus (no unprotected intercourse with someone else, no sharing of intravenous drug needles), you should fully expect a negative result.

[Tawa20242050roger]

Thank you for the quick response, the RNA PCR test was already tested and it’s negative. Is it okay that they jumped right to this test from the fourth generation instead of doing a differential antibody test? My research indicated that was the next step.

[CurfewX]

Absolutely fine. Antibodies can be tricky during pregnancy. Also, the RNA PCR test would detect any presence of virus in her body. It's extremely sensitive. Your wife does not have HIV and you can move on.

[Tawa20242050roger]

A concern I have is the fourth generation antibody tests for both HIV 1 and 2, and a differential test wasn’t performed after. Looking at the RNA PCr test name I see HIV 1 only and not HIV 2, so my concern is we don’t know if we even tested the right strain with the PCR.

[CurfewX]

YOUR WIFE NEVER HAD A RISK FOR HIV.

I don't know how you expect any test to detect a disease she was never exposed to. She didn't have a risk for HIV-1. Unless she's been having unprotected intercourse or sharing drug needles with someone from West Africa, she didn't have a risk for HIV 2.

Find a way to put this behind you.

[AnxiousNoMore]

"My research indicated that was ....." Calling your ideas "research" is a big stretch.

The problem is you are not a researcher and in fact have a poor grasp of science since you don't understand that hiv doesn't occur in people who had no risk. It is time to move on, instead of continuing to worry about your irrational ideas.