Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.I recently had an EIA Screen come back positive for HIV 1&2. Follow up test for Western blot showed negative HIV but positive for lyme screen. Could I be in the middle of seroconversion?
Mark H. Katz, M.D.
Regional HIV/AIDS Physician Coordinator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California
A positive ELISA but negative Western blot is indeed commonly a sign that seroconversion is about to occur, although many other infections--such as Lyme disease--could give a falsely positive ELISA test. Thus, the best strategy would be to re-test for HIV in around a month after the one you had--if the ELISA is now negative, you have nothing to worry about. If it is positive and the Western blot is negative, it is likely the false positive from Lyme. And, if indeed both a positive, then you are newly HIV-positive. In all cases, there are treatments for you which can restore good health.
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