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Does The Fourth Generation Eliza Test Results Produce Many False Positive Results?
Hi Dr. How are you? I ve written to these types of sites before. However, no one answered me. Please, I really need help. Long story short. I ve had 3 false positive HIV results in 12 weeks. My ELIZA tests never used to come back reactive before. Now they do. My microbiologist swears that it s a laboratory phenomenon and that my WB and P24 antigen negative results are conclusive, and that I don t require a 6 month test. I ve spoken to another microbiologist, a HIV nurse, another HIV doctor, my family doctor...They all concur. What do you think? My microbiologist had stated to me that my negative results will never change unless I expose myself to HIV in the future. What do you think? Is it a laboratory phenomenon ? I was told by the HIV doctor that the 4th generation ELIZA tests are very sensitive, thus producing many false positive results. Please write. I m going crazy here. Thanks.
Wed, 2 Apr 2014
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
You had not mentioned your age and whether you had been diagnosed to have any other illness other than HIV which can induce a false positive ELISA.
Auto-immune disorders and recent vaccinations are known to produce a HIV false positive reaction due to cross reactive to HIV antibodies. I will not say it as a laboratory phenomenon.
As Elisa detects antibody against a single Antigen,whereas Western blot detects multiple antibodies against multiple antigens of HIV, this becomes more confirmatory. Similarly ELISA and Western Blot detects antibodies only whereas P24 detects the antigens (viral proteins) itself, they become more specific than a ELISA . So you can rely upon more with Western Blot and P24 antigen test rather than ELISA.
Dr S.Murugan
Welcome to HCM.
You had not mentioned your age and whether you had been diagnosed to have any other illness other than HIV which can induce a false positive ELISA.
Auto-immune disorders and recent vaccinations are known to produce a HIV false positive reaction due to cross reactive to HIV antibodies. I will not say it as a laboratory phenomenon.
As Elisa detects antibody against a single Antigen,whereas Western blot detects multiple antibodies against multiple antigens of HIV, this becomes more confirmatory. Similarly ELISA and Western Blot detects antibodies only whereas P24 detects the antigens (viral proteins) itself, they become more specific than a ELISA . So you can rely upon more with Western Blot and P24 antigen test rather than ELISA.
Dr S.Murugan
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