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HIV-1 AB Test Presump. Reactive But The HIV-1 Confirmation
Question: HIV-1 AB test presump. reactive but the HIV-1 confirmation
confirmation HIV-1 and HIV-1 NAAT were both non reactive. what does this mean? what could cause the initial presumptive reactive result? This is happening to my fiance. He had this happen previously he went to donate blood and got a false positive result for HEP C which was negative on this panel. both times he has just had his flu vaccination. coukd this be a factor?
Brief Answer:
Both seems to be negative on more authentic tests than antibodies
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible.
First of all it's sad to know what your fiance had been going through lately.
Based on the history you have shared, if NAAT is negative, it's sensitivity and specificity are more reliable than antibody tests which may come false positive. For reassurance a repeat sample for PCR and CD4 counts can be done after three to six months.
Same goes for the HCV, as false positive tests can occur and may not be necessarily due to flu vaccine but are possibilities with normal individuals and sometimes kits manufacturing or reagents may cause false results interpretation but without positive PCR any chances of disease manifestation are not possible so he can rest assured in this regard.
Wishing him a healthy life ahead.
Regards
Both seems to be negative on more authentic tests than antibodies
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible.
First of all it's sad to know what your fiance had been going through lately.
Based on the history you have shared, if NAAT is negative, it's sensitivity and specificity are more reliable than antibody tests which may come false positive. For reassurance a repeat sample for PCR and CD4 counts can be done after three to six months.
Same goes for the HCV, as false positive tests can occur and may not be necessarily due to flu vaccine but are possibilities with normal individuals and sometimes kits manufacturing or reagents may cause false results interpretation but without positive PCR any chances of disease manifestation are not possible so he can rest assured in this regard.
Wishing him a healthy life ahead.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
thank you for your response! I know in my gut he is ok it is just very stressful. tbere has to be a common factor gor the false positives. I am nit an MD I am a LVL III Reiki Master and i can tell something is causing it. he has mild psorias. i just wish i knew what is causing the false positives. there has to be an antibody to some virus or something...
Brief Answer:
Yes autoimmune diseases can cause false positive tests
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Thanks for the feedback. Yes psoriasis can be one of the cause in his case as psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and it may drive exaggerated antibody responses and can be a common factor, though still faulty or limmited scope of the kits methods can cause abnormal results. For reassurance antibody titers with ELISA can be sought but if PCRs are negative, clinically he would be disease free. Regards
Yes autoimmune diseases can cause false positive tests
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Thanks for the feedback. Yes psoriasis can be one of the cause in his case as psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and it may drive exaggerated antibody responses and can be a common factor, though still faulty or limmited scope of the kits methods can cause abnormal results. For reassurance antibody titers with ELISA can be sought but if PCRs are negative, clinically he would be disease free. Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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