hi, i had Herpes Zoster infection 1.5 years back. my doctor suggest for HIV test. i had ELISA test on same day and found as negative.now my wife got test for HIV. lab report is non reactive. but when i ask lab to explain, they said they did some card test as a preliminary test and found her as positive but when they did contra test (2nd level of test). the report is non-reactive. she is 5 month pregnant. they said if we feel we can go for ELISA test else not required. my wife is very sensitive from her childhood. my doctor suggest no need of any test and said card test may give wrong results and if counter test is negative means she is negative. we never had any exposure to HIV. please suggest what to do. we are very afraid.

Hello.

Do you and your wife need to get repeat HIV tests? Absolutely not. There are three reasons why:

1. If you have never had an HIV exposure, there is absolutely no way you could be HIV infected.

2. A positive preliminary HIV test followed by a negative, more sensitive confirmatory test is considered a negative HIV test.

3. Pregnancy can cause nonspecific cross-reacting antibodies, which can result in false-positive or indeterminate HIV test results.

I absolutely agree with your doctor. Both you and your wife are HIV negative and there is absolutely no need or additional HIV testing.

Be well. Stay well.

Dr. Bob