Question:

My partner and I have been donating Plasma for about three weeks. Today I was informed that I tested positive for Anti-Hiv 1/2 EIA. They told me that thier test results were only about 70% acurate.

My partner was informed that he did not test positive. My question to you is this: Is it possible for my partner not to have contracted the virus from me? We have sexual intercourse on a regular basis. We went down to our primary care Dr. and were tested as soon as I was informed.

Also what are the chances that a prescription drug "Prednisone" that I have been taking for an illness that I have, make the test results false/positive? I do not use illegal drugs, nor do my partner or I have sexual contact with anyone else. I was told by the Plasma center that even if the results came back negative from the primary care Dr. that I would never be able to donate again.

Answer provided by:

Trevor Hawkins, M. D.
Associate Clinical Professor, Dept. Family Practice, University New Mexico
Medical Director, Southwest CARE Center, Santa Fe, NM

First thing is to have the EIA test confirmed by a more specific test called a Western Blot. The EIA is a screening test which can become +ve because of other proteins than HIV. The Western Blot tests specifically for HIV. Wait for that test; if it's negative or even indeterminate, you are most likely do not have HIV.

If you are positive, then get a CD4 count and an HIV-RNA test and see a doc who specialises in HIV. It is possible that you could be +ve and your partner -ve, but take one step at a time.

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