Question:

Hello, I know that a false positive result of the RPR test for Syphilis can show that you have HIV. I would like to know if is it possible to detect HIV during the window time with the RPR test showing false positive?

Answer provided by:

Daniel Lee, M. D.
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine
UCSD Medical Center
Owen Clinic

It is true that a positive RPR test for syphilis can result in a false positive HIV test (meaning the test comes back positive, but one is really not HIV positive). By definition, the window period is the time when someone recently exposed to HIV may be HIV infected, but their standard HIV test (looking for antibodies) is still negative as the person has not yet developed antibodies (assuming that they are HIV positive). To detect HIV during the window period, you probably need to check a viral load test, which will be positive (whether or not they have a positive RPR test). However, checking viral loads for HIV screening is not currently the standard of care and usually is done mostly for research purposes. Hope that helps clarify things. Thanks for your question.

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