Donna Sweet, M.D.Professor of Internal Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. My son received a letter from the American Red Cross stating that his blood donation was rejected because the ELISA test for HIV came back positive. Additional test results using the WB and Multiplex NAT were "Indeterminate" and "Negative", respectively. He has never had unprotected sex and does not use drugs. He last had sex more than a month ago. He's very picky who he dates.
Please tell me what these blood test results mean. Thank you.
Donna Sweet, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita
False positives do occur. The ELISA test is set very sensitive to protect the blood pool and can sometimes come back with a false reading. I would suggest that you have him go to his physician and have them do HIV viral testing to confirm or refute whether he is truly positive or negative. This testing actually tests for the amount of virus in the blood and will show if the virus is present.
070329
ASKD070311
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, John M. Lloyd Foundation, Roche and Trimeris, John M. Lloyd Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980,2007. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.