[Question #10315] Hiv false positive follow up...again
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24 months ago
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Dr.,
I am not sure if you can see prior messages but in short, pregnant, false p24 antigen positive during pregnancy, follow up negative. Been monogomous for 6-7 years and have 4 negative HIV tests since any high risk behavior.
On my follow up qualitative RNA from the Mayo Clinic, I noticed on their webpage it says this: A single "Undetected" result may not rule out the presence of HIV infection, if the plasma specimen is collected and tested too early after exposure (ie, less than 10 days from exposure) or if patient is infected with a rare HIV variant.
I didn’t see this in the package insert so I am not sure if it’s an issue. They seem to have high sensitivity for even type O variants. Now I am scared that the false positive was from a rare HIV strain. Is this possible?
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24 months ago
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This is the reflex test (non antibody one)
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
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I’m sorry you are having so much trouble leaving your unequivocally false positive test behind. This is your OCD taking you down a rabbit hole. If your HIV p24 antigen was positive then, without a doubt your PCR test would be as well.
Accept that you don’t have HIV. See your doctor about your OCD. EWH
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23 months ago
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You’re right, of course. I have been doing CBT but lexapro works for me and I will restart as soon as I have the baby.
My husband won’t get tested bc he has been 2-3 times for work since we got married (last a year and a half ago) and thinks this is all stupid. He has had back to back canker sores for the last 3 months, which is a new development for him (he’s had them before but not back to back). Naturally my ocd is telling me this is hiv, but I am not going to press him to get tested bc I am being insane.
If he were hiv positive, could some passive transfer or other phenomenon have caused my false positive p24 test? I’m asking as a follow up bc I don’t want to do any anxiety driven research.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
23 months ago
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I’m glad to hear that you are not going to the Internet. As you know, it will only fuel your OCD. Yuur husband does not have HIV and even if he did, passive transfer would not explain your false positive p24 antigen. Chalk it up to a good but not perfect test and bad luck. I hope you’re talking regularly with your counselor about these concerns. EWH ---