Hi doctors, I had a very frustrating appointment with a pulmonologist yesterday - my husband had some incidental findings on an xray from about three weeks ago as he broke a rib, he had inflamed lymph nodes in his lungs and long story short after a CT scan and a biopsy he was diagnosed with sarcoidosis.  We had lots of questions but one was about is he immunocompromised - they said he was not, but the doctor was very non-committal about everything.  I asked him if any blood work my husband had done of the years could be impacted as we aren't sure when he contracted the disease - again very non committal.  So we are trying to get answers for others but one thing I asked was about STDs such as HIV, Hep B, Syphilis, chlymidia - all the usual suspects - and he didn't have an answer, we got the feeling this is a very rare disease that not much research has been done about its impacts or its just not known.  So since I have had so many good experiences on this site - I just wanted to ask that if you knew anything about this and if someone is asymptomatic - without the the incidental scan we wouldn't have even known - so if they were asymptomatic and not immunocompromised do you think all of my husbands HIV tests, Hep B screen, syphilis, etc., were accurate or could this disease have cause any false negatives as he was negative for everything.  If you don't know because it is such a rare disease and I couldn't find anything in google searches then just consider this a donation to the fine work you do here - but if you can shed any light on this, it would help us understand better.  We are more worried about basic metaboloc panels, etc - but I understand that is out of the purvey of this site - so we will take that up with our GP, but stds are a phobia I have so I just wanted to check to see if you knew anything.  Thanks in advance.

Welcome back to the Forum and thanks for your questions although I 'm sorry that you feel the need.  I note that this is your 7th return to the Forum in the past 8 months, most typically expressing fears about HIV or other STIs and the accuracy of testing.  Is this a new problem?  You characterize this a "phobia".  Is it new?  I also note that you have repeatedly mentioned information that you have obtained through the internet.  If you have not been warned about the internet as unreliable source of information, let me do so. Much of what is found on the internet about medical issues and in particular, STIs and HIV is unreliable.  Remember that the internet is not curated and as a result, much of what is found there is alarmist or incorrect (because it is out of date, taken out of context, or just plains wrong).  While I'll comment on your current questions below, I urge you to address this phobia- it is not good for you.---

Thanks Doctor I will try not to look for things on the internet and stop worrying as I do.  I was a little confused by what you wrote, but the takeaway was his tests are fine - one thing I wanted to ask was antibody tests like HIV fingerstick, Hep b screens like HbcAB, HBsAB, HBsAG and syphilis antibody tests like EIA / IA those are what you referred to as host response tests correct?  I just wanted to make sure - and those tests from what you wrote below would be accurate then correct?  Would this be the case if my husband was asymptomatic or symptomatic or would that matter?  I assuming if he was really sick from this disease on steroids for long periods of time it may impact them, but since he is not - I am assuming he is not immunocompromised or what that even matter.  Last followup then I will let you get on with your day and thanks for your reassurance.

Yes, the antibody tests you mention are the ones I was referring to.  I would again urge you to believe them.  Symptomatic or not.  EWH---

thanks as always doctor - take care