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Ask the Experts about Mental Health and HIV
False positive Ora-quick Please help
Aug 28, 2008
Hello, please help me with some advice. i tested positive via ora-quick hiv 1/2 kit at the local clinic it was reactive with a very faint line. They ran a second test that was negative and had me return at 3 months, and six months past exposure. Both tests were negative. I am concerned because they never ran a western blot to follow up the first reactive ora-quick, they only ran a standard eia. I am alo worried about an exposure i had ten years ago with a girl from Botswana africa. I am worried because i am afraid that i may have contracted HIV 0 or hiv N and thats why that first test was slightly re-active. I went to my doctor who is not an expert and he ran a test through lab corp that read hiv 1/0/2 non reactive/negative. He then put me on Lexapro because of my stress over this scare. Doctor, have i done enough to rule out hiv? I want my life back, and i am sorry that i am not strong enough to deal with this when there are people suffering worse than I. Please help me? Thanks and Gpod bless
Response from Dr. Horwath
HIV antibody tests consist of 2 parts. Part 1 is a screening test known as the ELISA. It is very sensitive and great for screening, but it does sometimes produce a false positive because of its high sensitivity. For this reason, the HIV antibody test is not considered positive unless confirmed by the Western blot (part 2).
The OraQuick test is equivalent to an ELISA screening test. A positive result must be considered preliminary until confirmed by a more specific test, such as Western blot.
Your tests are negative. You are suffering from anxiety and should seek additional treatment if the Lexapro doesn't help.
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