False Negative Test During Pregnancy

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Ask the Experts

Can pregnancy cause a false NEGATIVE result?

Hi! Just a quick question. I hear about pregnancy sometimes causing false positive HIV results, but I'm wondering if it could ever cause a false negative result, because of the immunosuppression that occurs during pregnancy. Could it cause a...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi!Nope. Having a bun in the oven is not a potential cause of false-negative ELISAs or PCRs. You can check the archives for a discussion of the causes of false-negative tests. I remember writing about that recently, so I won't reiterate that... Read more »

Positive Elisa, Indeterminate Western Blot, Negative Rapid Test HIV test was indeterminate?(INDETERMINATE HIV TESTS, 2009) (PREGNANCY, 2009)

Hi, Doctor - Around 2 weeks ago during my annual OBGYN appointment, I received a HIV test. The... Read more »

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D. »

False-negative and false-negative tests?

I work for an AIDS service organization answering HIV-related health questions. This one has... Read more »

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

Go to Ask the Experts »

Articles

Six Testing Sites Discontinue Use of OraQuick Oral HIV Test as FDA, CDC Investigate False-Positive Results

At least six testing sites in San Francisco, New York City and Los Angeles earlier this month discontinued use of OraSure Technologies ' oral OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV 1/2 Antibody Test, as CDC and FDA investigate reports of an abnormal number of... Read more »

San Francisco, NYC Report False Positives From OraQuick Oral HIV Test; CDC to Issue Advisory Recommending Additional Test

CDC this week will issue a public health advisory recommending that all HIV-positive results from OraSure Technologies ' oral, rapid HIV tests be followed up by the company's rapid "finger stick" test after reports of an "unusual" number of... Read more »

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Questions and Answers: False-Positive Oral Fluid Rapid HIV Tests

What is the significance of the reported increases in false positives when using the oral fluid HIV test in New York City sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics? It is important to keep in mind that overall oral fluid tests have performed well.... Read more »

San Francisco Clinics Getting High False-Positive Rate on Oral HIV Test

According to San Francisco Department of Public Health officials, analyses of more than 6,000 rapid-result oral HIV tests conducted in city public health clinics since spring found 47 positive results in patients who were negative in follow-up... Read more »

Connect With Others

Pregnancy and HIV false positive result

Posted by rustychaucer5968, 3 Replies

Hello everyone. I appreciate if anyone could answer my question regarding pregnancy and HIV False positive result.

My wife may be pregnant and she may be obtaing her routine blood test. I once read that if a pregnant woman was to take a HIV test, the... Read more »

so ELISA tests NEVER give a false negative?

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

Is this statement correct? Read more »

False negative tests...

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

I had an encounter with a woman who's HIV status I haven't been able to find out because a couple of months after our encounter she skipped town and her family say they don't have her phone number! I feel I was probably hustled, but that's another... Read more »

Pregnancy & HIV Tests

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

I've heard that pregnancy can cause a false positive HIV result. Is that true? I'm pregnant, and i was tested a little over 3 months since my last unprotected sexual encounter. The result was negative. Should I test again or is 3 months good... Read more »

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