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Ask the Experts about Women and HIV

 

i'm so confused!
Jul 26, 2003

my doctor ordered a hiv test 6 months after a possible exposure. it came back negative. she then ordered a follow up at one year. the results came back yesterday and it turns out it was a western blot test that came back indeterminate. i left the office and went to a lab and paid for an antibody test. it came back today negative. i don't know why she ordered the wb at one year unless i misunderstood and was actually positive at 6 months. i don't know what the indeterminate means. do i need to worry? i know that at 6 months there was evidence of hepatitis, but they said it was probably due to having the antibodies from the vaccine. please....answer....thanks!

Response from Dr. Jackson

15-20% of HIV uninfected persons will be indeterminate on an HIV western blot which is one reason it is not used as a screening test. If you are repeatedly negative by the HIV EIA screening test, then it is extremely unlikely you are HIV infected.

BJ



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