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Does It Have To Be Severe Immunodeficiency?
Question: Can mild or some immunodeficiency in a 9 year kid cause a hiv 4th AB/Ag test to be a false negative? The test was done about 6 years after an unfortunate exposure. Or does it have to be severe immunodeficiency?
I read that the antigen will only be there within the first few months after an exposure and again it will come back later only after a full blown AIDS stage. Since there is no antigen, can an HIV antibody test be a false negative in case of a mild or a moderate immunosuppression in a 9 year old child?
I read that the antigen will only be there within the first few months after an exposure and again it will come back later only after a full blown AIDS stage. Since there is no antigen, can an HIV antibody test be a false negative in case of a mild or a moderate immunosuppression in a 9 year old child?
Brief Answer:
Antibodies against HIV infection will be present after the window period.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query.
HIV has different types of proteins as antigens (Envelop, POL, Core). Antibodies can be produced against each antigens of HIV proteins as you see with report of a HIV Western blot test. (GP 120, GP 41, P24, P17, P32, P10 etc.).
Only P24 antigens are likely to disappear 6 months after the infection ( That too not always).
So all antibodies are not disappearing after the HIV infection.
Dr S. Murugan
Antibodies against HIV infection will be present after the window period.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query.
HIV has different types of proteins as antigens (Envelop, POL, Core). Antibodies can be produced against each antigens of HIV proteins as you see with report of a HIV Western blot test. (GP 120, GP 41, P24, P17, P32, P10 etc.).
Only P24 antigens are likely to disappear 6 months after the infection ( That too not always).
So all antibodies are not disappearing after the HIV infection.
Dr S. Murugan
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