[Question #12365] HIV Test ECLIA reference range

8 months ago

Hello Doctor,

I had an M2M giving unprotected oral exposure 6 weeks ago. I have done multiple HIV 4th gen tests. I understand that it is conclusive after 6 weeks.

However my question is that i did multiple tests on day 14, 28, 40 and it was ECLIA 0.271 non reactive. However, on day 44 i did another test ECLIA 0.522 non reactive.

Should i be concerned with reference unit increasing? Do i need to do additional test after sometime?

Thanks,

Edward W. Hook M.D.

8 months ago

It saddens me that you are having so much trouble accepting that you did get HIV from the virtually no risk encounter you described. Four days ago I said (twice) "Your test results prove that you do not have HIV or syphilis and that your symptoms are not due to these infections." The answer is not going to change." Fluctuations is the baseline negative value are to be expected and irrelevant. You did not acquire HIV. You need to accept your test results. EWH---

8 months ago

Thank you for the re-assurance Doctor. The reason i retested is to make sure i am after the window period of 45 days. I got really shocked after seeing the Reference unit increased rapidly. For my future reference, is this fluctuations normal? It seems to be increasing every time i test. Will it eventually goes up to 1?

Thank you

Edward W. Hook M.D.

8 months ago

Baseline fluctuations of test negative results are entirely normal. Negative is negative no mater what the number is and how it may differ from previous values. Please don't worry. EWH---