[Question #11946] Hiv reactive after 130 days

11 months ago

Hi doc,

I have sent another test to lab by finger prick test by 4th generation on last monday. It came back reactive. Although i was tested negative on day 89 after exposure blood fron vein in hospital lab. I went to hospital today and they have taken my blood sample from vein to do tests again. I swear to god i didn't had any exposure meanwhile, i am shaking so bad i thought you said they test will never change regarding the exposure i described to you in my previous posts. I am soooo sooo terrified

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

11 months ago

Welcome back, but I'm sorry you found it necessary.

I'm also sorry you had another unnecessary HIV test. The rapid fingerstick HIV blood tests sometimes give false positive results, and almost certainly that is what you have. For all the reasons provided in detail by Dr. Hook in your two recent discussions, you were at no risk for HIV and your previous test results were conclusive. The fault here is yours: you should not have continued to test, certainly not with a kind of test known to give false positive results.

Now you need repeat lab-based testing again. You should no too this on your own, but with the in-person advice of a knowledgeable doctor or clinic. You can expect repeat testing to be negative. Please return to let me know the results after you have done this.

HHH, MD

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11 months ago

Thanks for the reply dr. And it was not self test. It was finger prick blood test in the very small bottle sent to the lab. It came through the post. And its week 20, since my last exposure. It is roche 5th generation duo test. And i had the same test from the same lab at week 17, which was my 8th combo lab test. And this 9th combo 5th generation showed reactive. And, i just got panicked so much and just now rushed to get the insti rapidtest from the lab few minutes ago. It was non-reactive. But again i am looking here at 2 situations. 1st- maybe i am just in intial seroconversion phase thats why 5th generation lab test picked it up and insti wasn't able to. Although i am in the 20th week nearly 5 months after my last exposure described above to dr hook.

11 months ago

Since my exposure i had 8 non reactive 4th generation lab test till week 17. And this week 20 got reactive *

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

11 months ago

This is confusing, but I believe I understand that only one test -- the most recent one, 20 weeks after the exposure you are concerned about -- has been positive. Is that right? All others before then have been negative?

All HIV blood tests can give false positive results, including the AgAb (4th generation) tests. ("Fifth generation" is a marketing term; that test is a minor change from previous tests types. It's really a fourth generation test.) A false positive result remains by far the most likely explanation; there has never been a proved case of blood test positivity delayed as long as 20 weeks and you are not likely to be the first. And as you were informed in your previous forum discussions, you had a highly safe sexual exposure. (Of course this assumes you have had no other possible HIV exposures since the one you described in your other threads.)

So this doesn't change my opinion or advice. You must see a doctor or clinic experienced in HIV/AIDS. Do that ASAP. I will have no other advice until and unless you return to report the outcome of that evaluation and confirmatory testing for HIV.

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11 months ago

Yes doc. I am concerned about the 20th week test which came back reactive. (Today). Previous all 8 tests done in lab 4th generation were negative. I have just done insti rapid test just now and it came negative. Nhs hospital has taken my blood sample from vein today and sent to lab for confirmatory testing. Offcourse i didn't had any sort of exposure since 20 weeks. The one i described above to dr hook.

I will let you know once the confirmatory tests are here. I hope the last test was false positive.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

11 months ago

OK, I'm looking forward to knowing those results. Also what your doctor or clinic says. DO NOT REQUEST CONFIRMATORY TESTING ON YOUR OWN;YOU MUST SEE A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. I will have no more comment until then.

And try to stay mellow in the meantime. It is exceedingly unlikely you have HIV.

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11 months ago

Hi great doc,

Hope you're well! My confirmtory tests have came back as negative. And indeed, i consulted by infectious disease doctor in nhs hospital in Birmingham. He got angry knowing i have tested 8 times by combo in lab and were all negative. However, as you know my 9th combo came back reactive. So, he decided to take big sample of blood and sent for confirmatory testing and took 2 days for them to come back. He said they have ran 2 to 3 diagnostic confirmatory tests as per bash british sexual health guidelines which came back negative. Hence, it is totally proven that i am hiv negative and i dont need any sort of further testing.

11 months ago

Also, i would say dr hook was absolutely right that i do not hiv. I should have listened to you guys when my 47th day test after my exposure came back as negative. My ocd kept pushing me to test again and again up till 20th week 5 months. However, doctor i have question here for you that how was 9th 5th generation roche ecleyes test came back false reactive when the same lab same 5th generation machine gave me non reactive 3 weeks ago ?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

11 months ago

I understand why your doctor because angry with you and agree with that. You should not have kept testing, and your compulsions along those lines have led to unnecessary actions and a waste of money, time, and professional energy for the NHS. OCD or not, you have an obligation to behave responsibly. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but this is why your own doctor is angry.

Please note the forum policy against repeated questions on the same topic, especially when anxiety driven. This being your third about your inflated HIV fears and their consequences, it must ibe your last. Repeated anxiety driven questions are deleted without reply and without refund of the posting fee. We're not keen on collecting fees for questions with obvious answers; repeated replies often prolong anxiety rather than relieving it (there's so often a "yes but" or "could I be the exception" sort of thinking, especially when OCD is involved); and such questions have reduced education value for other users, one of the forum's goals. Thank you for your understanding.

Best wishes to you.

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