Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
|
|
 |  |
 |
 |
Confusing lab report
Jan 29, 1998
Dear Dr. Gallant:
Three months after a high risk exposure (oral sex with somebody who I have learned is HIV+), I took the ELISA and Western Blot. ELISA was negative, but WB was indeterminate. The lab report stated "multiple non-viral bands observed", but said all the other bands were absent. What does this mean? My doctor, who has a large HIV practice in Houston, says it's a negative WB and he has never seen anybody test positive beyond eight weeks after an exposure. I am so worried and stressed I am making myself sick over this. Please answer.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Response from Dr. Gallant
Your doctor is almost certainly right, though because you're still technically within the window period you should probably have the test repeated. Normally we would say to repeat at 6 months after exposure. However, just about everyone who has an "indetermnate" Western blot due to seronconversion will go on and convert within one month. If you remain indeterminate at one month without developing new bands, it means that you are almost certainly negative. If that's still true 6 months after exposure, then it's clearly negative.
JG
|
|
|
 Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
Copyright notice.
|
|
|
|
