Can Viral Load Tests Be Thrown Off By Antibiotics

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Viral Load Tests

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Antibiotics, infections and viral load

Dear Dr. Holodniy,1. What affect, if any, will antibiotic treatment have on the viral load tests? Can the numbers be driven down or up by antibiotics?2. If an individual has any other infection, how will this impact the viral load testing?Thank...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Antibiotics themselves will not affect the viral load, either in the assay itself, or in a person. We do know that certain kinds of infections and vaccinations can increase viral load transiently by 2-100 times. Not all kinds of infections have been... Read more »

Does antibiotic or an infection alter CD4 and viral load results?

Dear Dr. Mark HolodniyI have been positive since an year and am not on medications. My CD4 values over one year has evolved as 474(23%),477(24%),575(25.5%) and 495(21%). Respective viral load values have been 794,5500,1500,3600. CD8 has been sort of...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Antibiotics will not affect the result. An acute infection can affect the CD4 count. Given the prior consistent numbers, it is likely that on repeat your numbers will be back to baseline.... Read more »

Hepatitis B / Antibiotics and HIV Test (ANTIBIOTICS AND HIV TESTING, 2009)

I currently have Hepatitis B and have just finished taking azithromycin for a cough.I just took a Home Access Hiv test (6 weeks after potential exposure) and was wondering if either the Hep B or antibiotics would affect the negative result.Thank you....

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,Once again, the information you request was already waiting for you in the archives!!! I've answered these concerns multiple times in the past. (See below for a small sample of what you will find in the archives!)Dr. BobHep B and HIV... Read more »

viral load test

hi doc,i read in an article :"The viral load test results can be thrown off if your body is fighting an infection, or if you have just received an immunization (like a flu shot). You should not have blood taken for a viral load test within...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Hello,HIV viral loads can be elevated when the immune system is activated. As such, viral load testing isn't recommended to assess ART when you've recently had a vaccination or infection (herpes, sinus infection, bronchitis).Viral load... Read more »

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p24, viral load, dna, and antibody test

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

Does anyone know where I can get a combination p24, viral load, dna and antibody test done? Read more »

another ?--viral load testing

Posted by anxious, 1 Reply

following my pre-seminal fluid post, i was just wondering about the viral load test. i think its the "pcr" test you guys keep referring to on here. well, being as anxious as i am for a result... what are the stats on this test? how conclusive is... Read more »

The Failure of Viral Load Tests

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The Failure of Viral Load Tests
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A nationwide team of orthodox AIDS researchers led by doctors Benigno Rodriguez and Michael Lederman of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland are disputing the... Read more »

DNA PCR Vs Viral Load test

Posted by sunkyst, 1 Reply

Does anyone know the difference between a HIV DNA PCR test versus a viral load test that's performed on someone already confirmed positive, obviously one is about detecting the virus and the other how much but are the methods used essentially the... Read more »

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