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belk13
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Reged: 10/03/08
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Am I being ridiculous? Hiv false positive scare
#242565 - 10/03/08 04:16 PM
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Hello.. i tested "false positive" at the local clinic with an ora-sure rapid hiv 1/2 kit.. they immediatley followed it up with a second test (elisa) that was negative.. They had me return for an additional elisa 6 months past last "exposure" also negative.. They never ran a western blot so I went to my doc and he told me that since all the other tests were negative a western blot would add nothing (although he said they should have ran one to confirm first test) well, I was a little worried about that but more importantly.. i have been reading about hiv group N and iv group O which are only found in africa.. I did have unprotected sex with a girl from africa many years back and I am worried that the first test was positive because it was picking up one of these "other" strains.. i have been fairly sexually active in the years since the encounter and I also fear that if I have spread this other people out there won't know.. and won't be able to test.. guys I really need some advice anyone have any suggestions..? My doctor says i should let it go.. easy for him to say!!
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pixie
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A western blot is needed to confirm. Although your tests are negative and I think you have nothing to worry about, it is clear that your anxiety will not subside unless you get a western blot. So get one done and you'll feel a lot better. 
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belk13
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Thanks.. I think i may just to feel better.. My doctor said the western blot should not be run unless there is a positive elisa first.. which essentially I had.. but since none of the others have been positive the lab has not run them.. I may go to a different doctor and just insisit on the western blot to feel better.. Imaybe it's my only choice.. Well, at this point hopefully it is ONLY for peace of mind.. As far as the rare starins such as hiv N.. do you think I should be concerned because of the african exposure? have great weekend
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pixie
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Yes, this is about getting piece of mind and I think a simple Western Blot would do that for you. As for rare strains, I don't think so, as far as I know tests pick up all strains.
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To start: I doubt a negative WB is really going to help calm you down. I'm pretty sure that your mind would start coming up with reasons and 'what-if's' for why the test was wrong. If a test result could calm you, then you would have already accepted the TWO negative results you already have.
It's been so long since I've seen anyone bring up the whole N and O strain concerns that I had to refresh my memory about these strains. N was discovered in 1998 and AT THAT TIME there was concerned about if the tests AT THAT TIME could detect it. In 1998 the "O" strain was being detected on some of the tests. Coming back to today...a decade later and a few testing revisions...this is no longer an issue.
The problems with false postive results with the Orasure Rapid have been well documented at this point. Since that test was already suspect, the clinic did the right thing by re-testing you again, right there and having you return at a later date to retest once again. Both those are negative. You are HIV negative.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/testing/rapid/oral-fluid.htm
Your doctor has made a responsible decision not to order a WB, since you clearly show that you don't have HIV. If you did you would have tested postive on both those other tests, ESPECIALLY since the one big concerning exposure was years ago, well out of any window period you might choose to go by.
You should listen to your doctor's advice and let this go and if you can't then you should see if you can get a referral for counseling to help you work through this and move on.
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belk13
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Thanks...
#242591 - 10/06/08 03:33 AM
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Thanks esmeralda... I am feeling a little bit better as of this post... i am starting to understand that what I am trying to "beat" is my anxiety over the whole ordeal.. It really scared the shi* out of me... Well, if people are strong enough to deal with testing positive I should take a page out of their book and at least try to be stronger and stand up to the fear.. I know I am blessed and Very lucky... It is hard for me, though, I have terrible anxiety to begin with and I guess that's why I am having trouble getting over this.. i think I just want to be 100 percent sure that i am okay.. i have trouble dealing with only being 99 percent sure.. does that make sense? well, thanks again everyone for listening to me rant... i hope you all ahve a nice fall season..
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pixie
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Good luck, always here if you need me
p.s. happy autumn to you... I'll be enjoying spring :P
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belk13
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Hello everyone.. Well.. I went to an infectious d. specialist and told him my story.. He looked over my tests and told me that there was no reason to test further.. in fact he would nit test me again because he felt that I have to learn to "not test" .. I guess it really is time to put this behind me.. i still worry sometimes that I may have got an "rare" strain from my encounter many years ago.. but I just have to work on learning that this is the fear creeping in.. thank you all for your help.. and God Bless
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