I recently got an hiv test and it came back indeterminate. My doctor told me that he only ordered a western blot test-not an elisa test. He asked me back for other tests and has reported that my cd4 test came back with a count of over 1700...still waiting for the results of the new hiv test. I've had sexual contact with high risk people in the last six months. Now what?

Hello,

Now what? Well, first off I'd suggest you get a more competent physician! The one you currently have isn't doing you any favors. Western Blot tests should never be ordered as isolated HIV-screening tests. The rate of indeterminate test results for isolated Western Blot tests is in the range of 4% to 20%! Western Blots should only be ordered to confirm a repeatedly positive ELISA (EIA, rapid test, etc.). So ordering a Western Blot without a preliminary positive ELISA was your doctor's first mistake. He then apparently followed that error up by ordering a CD4 cell count. Again, this is totally inappropriate. There was no indication to order this expensive test.

The bottom line is this: If you've placed yourself at risk for HIV, you need an HIV-antibody test three months or more from the time of your last potential exposure. If that screening test (ELISA, EIA, rapid test) is repeatedly reactive (positive), it should immediately be followed by a confirmatory Western Blot. This is not rocket science and your doctor is clearly not a rocket scientist (or adequately informed physician either!).

Good luck.

Dr. Bob