Hope you have been well.

Following up on my previous question #8802, I went ahead and did the 4th generation test and it came back negative as you have predicted.

Is my 4th generation DBS test conclusive? Or should I do the test with blood drawn from the vein?

Thank you

The short answer to your question, is that your most recent fingerstick combination HIV antigen/antibody test provides proof that you were not infected. As Dr. Handsfield has already indicated, even before testing your chances of infection were virtually zero. Your subsequent testing further strengthened that fact and your most recent test proves it. Blood spot HIV tests have a slightly higher falsely positive rate than venous blood tests but false negative tests are  not a problem with properly collected specimens. 

At this point, I urge you to believe your test results and move forward without continuing concerns. I hope this perspective is helpful to you. As you know, if any part of my response is unclear, please feel free to use your up to two follow-ups for clarification. EWH

I am reassured by your answers and almost ready to put this behind me. But a question/concern about collection of blood spots please: when collecting the sample, I might have not waited 30 minutes (as instructed in the procedure doc) for the sample to dry before putting it in the mail; I just put it in front of my car's AC for a couple of minutes and it looked the blood was absorbed in the paper.  Would this deviation from the instruction of use affect the testing?

Another question for my general understanding please - do vaccines elevate lymphocytes count? Before i did my 4th gen test, I had a CBC done exactly two weeks after my third hep b vaccine and the blood work shows a normal WBC of 6.9 but relative lymphs of 50% (vs 36% prior) and absolute count of 3.5 (normal range for the lab  is 0.9-3.1). I was surprised with the elevated level and rationalized it to be my immune response to the vaccine I had two weeks prior. Do you agree this could be the reason?

Thank you. 

 

I'm sure that receipt of a vaccine might elevate a lymphocyte count in blood although such changes are quite non-specific.  For this to still be present two weeks after a vaccine would be a bit unusual.  Please be aware that blood counts can be highly variable and as long as you're feeling OK, I would not worry.  EWH

Dear Doctor

I appreciate your thoughtful responses and I will conclude with a last question: Is other STD testing advised for the exposures I had?

Thank you, and stay well!

As you know, this will complete this thread.  Please don't worry.  EWH

Closing this thread now.  EWH