Can Viral Load Tests For Hiv Be Affected By Antibiotics

Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:

Get the Facts

Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange

HIV Viral Load Testing

As a person with HIV, having your viral load tested will likely be an importantpart of your plan to stay healthy. You will have the test done regularly,and it will be one of several factorsyou and your doctor will look at whendeciding how to manage your infection. This brochure introduces you tothe viral load test and answers basicquestions about how it fits into yourtreatment plan. What is the viral load test? A viral load test measures...

Ask the Experts

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 »

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 affecting test results?

Dear Dr. Holidnay,Does a persons VL determine how soon they will test positive for the HIV virus? I was curious if a person with a high viral load during the ARS syndorme might test postive sooner than an individual with a lower viral load during...

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

Stanford University, School of Medicine

The specific answer to your question is unknown. My hunch is that given the few cases in which we have serial samples, the natural evolution of antibody test positivity was not different when the level of viral load was looked at.MH... Read more »

Can outside factors affect viral load tests

Dear Doctor, I just tested HIV+, then three days later learned that my viral load was 236,000 and my cd4 count 113. I am wondering if a Hep A vaccination 3 days before the viral load test could effect those numbers. Also I have been on Flagel for...

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

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Both the giardia infection and the vaccination could have resulted in the increase in viral load. MH... Read more »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Connect With Others

The Failure of Viral Load Tests

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

The Failure of Viral Load Tests
JAMA Study Shakes AIDS Science, Angers HIV Advocates

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 »

VIRAL LOAD TESTS VS ELISA

Posted by bura, 2 Replies

"The test can be used for diagnosis, because it can detect a viral load a few days after HIV infection. This is better than the standard HIV (antibody) test, which can be "negative" for 2 to 6 months after HIV infection." If the antibody test can be... 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 »

Survey-Viral Load Testing

Posted by Liz1281, 1 Reply

We are a medical communications firm looking to gain perspective from HIV patients on a variety of issues. If interested, please take a few minutes to complete our survey (link below.) For the first 25 responses, we will make a donation to an HIV... Read more »

Connect on Our Bulletin Boards »

Tools

My Health Tracker

Assess Your Risk for HIV

Find Local HIV/AIDS Services

Resource Centers

Guides for People With HIV

View All of Our Guides >>