Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Marty Markowitz, M. D.
Clinical Director
Staff Investigator, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center
Associate Professor, Rockefeller University
Q. Does swollen lymph nodes signal the production of antibodies?
A. No swollen lymph nodes mean that the node is being activated by cells
that have encountered a foreign substance or if the node is
infiltrated with cancer. It is generally simple to tell the
difference between a reactive node and one that has tumor in it.
Q. Can antibodies be produced before lymph nodes swell?
A. Antibodies are made by specialized cells called plasma cells. They are recruited to
make antibodies and do so in many areas including a lymph node.
Q. I took the antibody test OUTSIDE of the 24 week window period, but
now have developed many persistently swollen lymph nodes...could this
mean that my body just began to produce significant amounts of
antibodies?
A. Swollen glands can be caused by many different things. You should see
a doctor.
Q. Does sending blood from one place to another for testing affect the
results?
A. NO
Q. Does a low white blood count appear 6 months after infection?
A. Sometimes, but rarely.
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