Aa
confused please answer hiv testing
Hi
In August last year (after 3mnths of no sex) I went for an HIV rapid test (finger-prick) and it was negative. My ex-boyfriend and I always used a condom and there were no tears (btw I've ALWAYS used condoms ALL the time) and we broke up in January and I haven't been with anyone ever since. In October I donated blood and the blood bank called to say I must go to my doctor (NAT), and my doctor told me I'm HIV+ (ELISA no W/Blot confirmation test) she did a CD4 count and viral load test and apparently my CD4 count is 356 and my viral load is 720 and the dr estimates I was infected 4 years ago. None of this makes sense, I've never EVER been sick, never EVER had an STD, I don't live a risky lifestyle neither have I been at risk been last August and now. So I decided on a second opinion & went to another doctor and had another test done (finger prick rapid test) & it was negative.
So who should I believe? The second doctor says there's no way I could have been infected for 4 years and produce a false positive and seeing as I haven't been sexually active for about a year my results are pretty accurate. What is going on here? Which test is most accurate? The blood bank said their tests are sometimes overly sensitive & can produce false positives.
In August last year (after 3mnths of no sex) I went for an HIV rapid test (finger-prick) and it was negative. My ex-boyfriend and I always used a condom and there were no tears (btw I've ALWAYS used condoms ALL the time) and we broke up in January and I haven't been with anyone ever since. In October I donated blood and the blood bank called to say I must go to my doctor (NAT), and my doctor told me I'm HIV+ (ELISA no W/Blot confirmation test) she did a CD4 count and viral load test and apparently my CD4 count is 356 and my viral load is 720 and the dr estimates I was infected 4 years ago. None of this makes sense, I've never EVER been sick, never EVER had an STD, I don't live a risky lifestyle neither have I been at risk been last August and now. So I decided on a second opinion & went to another doctor and had another test done (finger prick rapid test) & it was negative.
So who should I believe? The second doctor says there's no way I could have been infected for 4 years and produce a false positive and seeing as I haven't been sexually active for about a year my results are pretty accurate. What is going on here? Which test is most accurate? The blood bank said their tests are sometimes overly sensitive & can produce false positives.
The lab only did an ELISA test (3rd & 4th gen) they said they no longer use the western blot as confirmation cause their tests are so accurate. The blood bank said their tests are sometimes overly sensitive and can produce a false positive. What doesn't make sense is that I tested last friday and the results were negative, the doctor even showed me that thing the blood was tested in and the was only one line (meaning HIV-) and she said I need to stop worrying since I was negative last year and haven't been active for a year then my results are pretty accurate, what don't understand is where the hell did that other lab get those cd4 figures and that doctor wanted to put me on meds and I refused cause I just found the whole thing strange.
Hi, sorry meant to say: the second doctor says there's no way I can produce a false negative after 4 years. I'm more inclined to believe the second doctor, because being infected makes no sense at all when I haven't been at risk.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
