What does a false positive HIV result mean? Erroneous HIV: when possible, probability

A false positive HIV test is an erroneous result of a laboratory study of a taken venous blood, in which the immunodeficiency virus is absent in the patient's body, but diagnostic methods give a positive answer.

No test or diagnostic technique allows you to get a 100% reliable result. To make a definitive diagnosis, information from several studies (eg, ELISA and immunoblotting) is taken into account.

Making a mistake and misdiagnosing HIV can lead to irreversible consequences. Prescribed highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) provokes serious side effects and can cause dysfunction of some internal organs.

A re-passed test is an opportunity to avoid ignorance and put an end to the issue of determining the diagnosis. Even if the virus is detected, you will be able to start treatment in time and live a full life.

The probability of error according to experts is only 0.01%, but in reality this value is much higher. We offer to consider the reasons for a false positive result and find out the rules to minimize its receipt.

A false-positive HIV test is quite common among pregnant women (a special risk group is women who have given birth several times!). The reason is a serious failure of the hormonal background during pregnancy.

Reasons for a false positive HIV test:

cross allergic reactions,
recent vaccinations,
inflammation of the small vessels of the body,
hepatitis or influenza virus,
transplantation of internal organs,
oncological diseases,
elevated bilirubin,
sclerosis (various forms),
poor clotting or increased blood density,
autoimmune liver disease,
tuberculosis,
menstruation,
any infectious disease.

A false positive result may be due to "human error" (eg, analysis or documentation error, mixed tubes, mislabeling).

Any infectious or viral disease can lead to a false positive result. It is recommended to take tests 35-40 days after recovery in order to be sure of the diagnosis.

False positive result in pregnant women

The reasons for a false positive HIV test in pregnant women, with the exception of hormonal failure, are divided into 2 groups:

Synthesis of male and female genetic materials (combination of the egg and sperm) during the birth of a new life in the body, leading to the formation of DNA.

In response to ongoing changes and foreign DNA, a woman develops her own antibodies. When tested for HIV, they will lead to a false positive result.

Stressful state in which a pregnant woman is. The likelihood increases in the presence of psychological problems that arose before pregnancy.

Women are tested for HIV several times throughout their pregnancy. Timely detection of infection will allow you to take a number of measures to protect the baby and prevent infection during childbirth or lactation.

About the basic rules of procedure in HIV-infected people

The first ELISA test for the detection of antibodies is carried out 6-12 weeks after the alleged infection. During the incubation window, the result will be negative (false negative) or doubtful.

Basic rules for the procedure in HIV-positive:

If a person is infected, then he needs to take a general blood test once a quarter. Such a measure will allow the specialist to track the dynamics of the progression of the disease, draw up and adjust the treatment process;
To obtain the most correct results, it is recommended to create the same conditions for venous blood sampling. For more accurate studies, carry out the procedure in the same specialized laboratory;
Blood donation for tests to detect antibodies developed against HIV is recommended in the morning. This is due to the fact that in the morning a person has an increased level of red blood cells.

You can consult on the procedure for taking venous blood from patients, preparing and deciphering the results in a private or public clinic, as well as a specialized center for combating AIDS.

How to pass the test

Portable home HIV antibody tests are a quick and easy way to find out if you have an infection. Kits for the study of urine, blood and saliva are widely used without recourse to specialists.

The disadvantage of express testing is the high probability of error compared to other diagnostic methods. Without a medical background, people misuse or interpret the results, resulting in a false positive diagnosis.

The frequency of false positive results when using rapid testing reaches 1%. The result obtained after the first study is not enough to make a correct and final diagnosis.

How to pass the test? Place the biological fluid to be tested (depending on the selected kit) in a special container containing the reagent. Wait 15-20 minutes for the test result.

Modern portable tests give 3 options:

positive,
negative,
doubtful.

Obtaining a questionable result usually occurs during the incubation period, when the reproduction of the virus is just beginning and the level of antibodies is relatively low. For the final diagnosis, contact a specialized laboratory.

Preparation for the correct delivery of the analysis

Laboratory studies aimed at detecting antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus are carried out on an empty stomach - at least 8 hours should elapse between the last meal and venous blood sampling.

Preparation for HIV testing includes:

Special drinking regime- only plain non-carbonated water is allowed. Eliminate from the diet for 8 hours tea, coffee, sugar-containing, alcoholic and other drinks;
Diet - refusal of fried, fatty and spicy foods a day before a laboratory test for HIV;
Contraindicated stressful situations, physical overwork, injuries and the use of antibiotics.

By adhering to the above rules, it will be possible to ensure maximum accuracy of laboratory research results.

HIV diagnosis in the laboratory

Positive HIV tests performed under specialized laboratory conditions are the only basis for a diagnosis. The procedure is carried out anonymously or openly; in time, venous blood sampling takes no more than 20 minutes.

Attention! It is necessary to take an HIV test for any suspicion of infection (for example, during unprotected sexual contact with an unfamiliar partner or the use of non-sterile medical instruments).

Stages of HIV diagnosis:

ELISA (enzymatic immunoassay). Detects the presence of antibodies produced by the immune system in response to a virus. In fact, the analysis "sorts" uniquely healthy and suspicious cells. At this stage, the probability of obtaining a false result is high.
Immunoblotting. Serum obtained from the isolation of plasma and erythrocytes from venous blood is studied for the presence of antibodies. More effective diagnostic technique in comparison with ELISA, but not perfect.
PCR. Checking blood serum, assessing the level of CD 4 lymphocytes. An effective method used in particular to detect HIV in babies from the first year of life. The advantage is the detection of the virus at an early stage before the formation of antibodies.

Analyzes are not carried out one after another, but after a certain period of time (for example, 2-3 weeks from the moment of the previous study).

Deciphering the results

The results of various diagnostic methods will differ, but when the three main sets of proteins are identified, the specialist makes a positive diagnosis.

The results of sampling and testing of venous blood for HIV:

*Meaning*	*Short description*	*What means?*
Does not exceed 20,000 copies/ml	Insufficient level of RNA	In a healthy person, this value reaches 0. For an infected patient, this is a good result, showing a low viral load.
Varies from 20,000 to 100,000 copies/ml	Primary or secondary manifestations of infection	About 75% of HIV-positive people have to live with a high viral load.
Varies from 100,000 to 450,000 copies/ml	dangerous value	The higher the value, the higher the likelihood of HIV passing to the terminal stage (AIDS).

The final diagnosis is reported by the doctor - negative or positive. About 95% of patients are retested. The result is positive, provided that both of the two tests showed antibodies (or two of the three tests).

Analysis Evaluation Criteria

Statistics on the detection of antibodies after infection:

60-65%
4 weeks after infection

80%
6 weeks after infection

90%
8 weeks after infection

95%
12 weeks after infection

The results are evaluated by the level of antibodies detected in the body. They are produced by the immune system in response to a virus. The only method that is not based on the detection of antibodies is PCR (polymerase chain reaction). It is usually prescribed to clarify the results obtained by ELISA or immunoblot.

If there is a medical error...

Obtaining a false positive result for HIV may be due to medical error and inaccuracy of support staff.

Among them:

Violation of the procedure and requirements for the transportation of the collected biological material (venous blood);
The use of incorrect or low-quality sera, which are the basis for the diagnosis of ELISA;
Intentional or accidental violation of the rules and requirements for the storage of collected venous blood.

Attention! Unfortunately, the possibility of making a medical error is present even in licensed medical organizations.

Did you get a positive result at the end of the test? Do not panic, but be sure to re-test for HIV using a different diagnostic technique (recommendation of the relevant WHO committee).

In case of a false positive result, a retest for the detection of antibodies to HIV is recommended after 2-3 weeks. Usually, a retake through the immunoblot method confirms the absence of infection in the human body.

Remember that the only way to detect the human immunodeficiency virus is through a laboratory test!

HIV, AIDS - these abbreviations can cause panic and serious feelings in any person. The resulting false-positive HIV test can have a variety of reasons - from objective, depending on the state of the body, to subjective, resulting from possible incompetence and negligence.

The article explains the reasons for the formation of incorrect data, the features of the test, possible measures to prevent the receipt of incorrect indicators, and also provides a special look at the problem of some specialists.

HIV diagnosis in the laboratory

If there is a basis for an HIV test, you must first take a complete blood count. The laboratory will record in detail all the data, on the basis of which specialists will be able to judge the amount of antibodies in the bloodstream: their number with a false positive result will be higher than the norm. However, this cannot be a cause for concern - as practice shows, high numbers can have completely different reasons.

Diagnosis consists of two stages:

Screening ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), sorting antibodies into unambiguously healthy and suspicious ones, which manifest themselves ambiguously. Just at this stage, the appearance of false positive results is possible.
A more complete analysis is immunoblotting. The method consists in studying the serum obtained by isolating plasma and erythrocytes from a portion of the provided blood and then identifying antibodies for their cooperation with the virus. Experts recognize this method of testing for the detection of HIV as more effective, but it cannot be considered impeccable either, the method does not give any guarantees.

Blood sampling is carried out within 20 minutes, using disposable medical instruments. The procedure can be done anonymously or openly.

The waiting time for the result is no more than 3 weeks.

For reference: HIV and AIDS are often confused, in order to clearly understand what will be discussed, you need to understand the difference between these designations. AIDS is a disease that has an irreversible development, the overwhelming majority of which leads its carriers to a tragic ending. HIV is a virus with which a person can coexist peacefully enough for a long time, while remaining its carrier.

Reasons for a false positive analysis

Several factors can be the starting point for skewed data.

Provocateurs of false results with a “+” sign can be various diseases, for example:

The presence of an infection in the upper respiratory tract;
Autoimmune liver diseases of a primary nature;
Violation of immune processes that act as a "regulator" of the normal activity of internal organs;
Severe arthritic damage to the joints;
The circulation of viruses in the body, especially influenza, hepatitis;
Alcoholic liver damage (mainly in men);
Damage to the vascular system;
Sclerosis at various stages;
Oncology.

In many cases, the decisive influence is exerted by the characteristics of the blood - its increased density and serious problems with coagulation.

Women often get a false result for HIV during pregnancy, or when donating blood during critical days. An incorrect result can also be formed as a result of transplantation (at the time of adaptation of the transplanted organ to a new body), or during donation (with frequent blood donation, it is constantly updated). Cross-reactions may well provoke a false positive result: for example, antibodies begin to form in the blood, which the body does not “read” and treats them as foreign harmful carriers.

In this case, an error in testing for HIV will be inevitable.

The first thing to learn is that the results of a single positive HIV test cannot be completely trusted. To confirm or refute one-time information, you need to go through the procedure again, but not earlier than after 3 months. If the body is not affected by HIV - infection, the result of the second analysis will be negative.

Testing at home

Most often, incorrect analysis indicators are detected during home testing. It turns out a false positive result for HIV due to a large number of errors, resulting in an incorrect idea of the actual state of the body. An erroneous result can be due to several reasons:

Violation of the rules for storing the test system;
Non-sterile material;
Incorrect amount of blood for analysis;
The presence of other factors (health, dietary habits, bad habits).

A home HIV test is convenient in that it makes it possible to remain anonymous - not every person is ready to provide their data for fear of disclosing information if infection is detected. But, as practice shows, performing the test at home gives the largest percentage of false positive results for HIV.

False positive result in pregnant women

Especially many experiences are caused by errors in laboratory tests to women who are in a period of joyful and exciting expectation of the birth of their baby.

A false positive HIV result in women during pregnancy is obtained in two cases:

When a new life is born in a woman's body, the genetic materials of the male and female organisms are mixed, resulting in a new DNA.

The female body instantly reacts to the “foreigner” by producing its own antibodies, and during testing they will be perceived as antibodies to HIV. The result is a false positive. The only way to obtain reliable data is to conduct an enzyme immunoassay aimed specifically at the determination of antibodies.

The stressful state of a pregnant woman may be the cause of the error, especially if psychological problems occurred before the moment of conception.

The doctor must inform the future mother of the test result, but this must be done as carefully as possible, taking into account the exacerbated state of the female psyche (pregnancy makes a woman especially sensitive to various news). To confirm or refute the data obtained, a woman expecting a child must undergo an examination in specialized clinics: an AIDS center, or a dermatovenerological dispensary.

If there was a medical error

There are not so many cases when the result of an HIV test is officially recognized as erroneous, such a phenomenon cannot be called mass, but there are precedents. What is the reason for such errors?

Opinions agree that in many respects the responsibility for erroneous information is the result of simple negligence, irresponsible behavior at the workplace of the treatment room employees. With all due respect to the medical staff of polyclinics and hospitals, a positive HIV test, which subsequently turns out to be false in the positive and negative directions, can be the result of an elementary mistake, the notorious "human factor".

An erroneous result can also be caused by insufficient competence of the clinical laboratory specialists, violation of the storage conditions for a special substance for analysis, or the use of expired materials.

A false positive result in an HIV test is a potential reason for a second test to eliminate the possibility of ambiguity or doubt about the reliability of the final result.

How to pass the test

In order to obtain reliable indicators when undergoing an HIV test, it is necessary to adhere to some mandatory conditions. A prerequisite for all - testing is certainly carried out on an empty stomach.

Before the procedure, you can not:

Continue an active sex life;
Use alcohol, drugs;
Eating fatty, fried, pickled and smoked foods - such a diet has an extremely negative effect on blood flow.

If before donating blood for HIV, you feel unwell, or a painful condition from a recent viral or infectious disease, a visit to the treatment room should be postponed for 1-1.5 months, until the final recovery. It is noteworthy that such a reason is one of the main reasons for obtaining an unreliable test result, since there is a high content of drugs in the blood that can completely distort the study data.

HIV - the terrible truth or "scam of the century"

Numerous venerable scientists have been breaking their spears around the topic of AIDS and HIV for decades: immunologists, hematologists, infectious disease specialists and almost the entire medical community are involved in the controversy. Information about the horrendous growth in the number of carriers of the two most dangerous viruses is reminiscent of reports from the front about human losses, the world list of annual memorable dates includes the Day of Remembrance of those who died from AIDS.

Every year, an increasing number of medical specialists in different parts of the world are mobilized to fight the "pandemic of the century".

However, there is another point of view on the problem. Some time ago, an article appeared on the Internet, essentially refuting all current ideas about these deadly diseases. It examined in detail the causes of HIV and AIDS, compared data from various sources, and provided a lot of statistical data for comparison. Based on all of the above, the authors conclude that the wave of fear and hysteria raised around these diseases is commercially motivated.

It is also argued that, under the current system, absolutely all research data should be false positives. The article is voluminous, replete with factual material, with references to international experience. However, after its publication, there were no responses from specialists, there was also no stormy controversy in the Internet community, only a few comments were made. Therefore, to trust or not to trust publications is up to each individual to decide.

Taking into account all the information available today about the state of affairs with HIV, it is impossible to draw one-sided, subjective conclusions about the causes of false testing rates. The correct position is a careful attitude to one's health, timely seeking advice from specialists, timely full medical examination. Those people who have a threatening diagnosis have been identified should not panic, but take the necessary measures to control the situation and consistent treatment.

In contact with

False positive HIV is not uncommon. This result occurs in many people. It is immediately worth noting that there are several reasons for this phenomenon. And not always a false positive HIV is a consequence of an unpredictable reaction of the body. Often the cause is an incorrectly conducted study, as well as a medical error. It is worth noting that the most common misdiagnosis of HIV is the result of home testing.

Fake HIV test at home

False-negative HIV test results most often occur when testing at home. It should be noted that the advantages of home test systems should not be diminished. Naturally, they do not give the one hundred percent result promised by some manufacturers in terms of accuracy, but their reliability is ninety-seven - ninety-eight percent. Here it is important to make an allowance for the fact that such a study should be carried out strictly according to the instructions and in exceptionally sterile conditions. A false HIV test can be due to various reasons. Most often, the result is negative, when in fact a person has an immunodeficiency virus in the body. For what reasons can this happen? First of all, if the test system is used incorrectly. Less or more blood, its non-sterility and other factors can cause infection not to be detected. Often a negative result in the presence of a terrible disease is a consequence of improper storage of tests. It's not just about wine pharmacies. It also happens that a person buys a product in a specialized institution and stores it incorrectly at home.

Is there a false positive HIV test in a home study? Yes. Such a development of events is also possible. But most often we are talking about a negative result in the presence of the disease. In what cases can the error work in the opposite direction? This is primarily affected by the state of the immune system, which in some cases leads to the production of antibodies by the body without the presence of infection. Concomitant diseases of the kidneys, liver, endocrine system can also cause a false positive result for HIV to occur during a home study. A small error in the test systems can also cause this result.

False positive HIV: causes during pregnancy

There are two reasons for a false positive HIV test during pregnancy. It is worth noting that such a picture is observed in twenty to twenty-three percent of women. Why the body of a pregnant woman begins to produce antibodies to the immunodeficiency virus. This may be due to the fact that when the egg and sperm are combined, the two genetic materials are mixed. This leads to the emergence of new DNA, which is perceived by the woman's body as foreign. The immune system reacts first to cells invading the body. It is she who can begin the production of antibodies, which in the analysis will be regarded as antibodies to the immunodeficiency virus. Can an HIV test be false positive in this case? Yes maybe. In this case, ELISA testing can erroneously determine a terrible ailment. This type of study is aimed at identifying exactly AT. And they, as you know, are similar in structure to each other.

When examining a pregnant woman for HIV, a false positive result may also occur for another reason. The fact is that after conception, the body experiences serious changes and a kind of stress. It is worth noting that if before pregnancy the immune system was in a deplorable state, then after it it is even harder. This is what can cause false HIV.

It is important to know that such an analysis result for the presence of antibodies to a terrible disease is not a gadfly or a basis for making a diagnosis. A pregnant woman is obliged to explain this to a doctor from the antenatal clinic, with whom she is registered. This specialist must also refer the patient to the ACU or a specialized AIDS center without fail. And already in these medical institutions the false diagnosis of HIV will be refuted.

False positive HIV test: causes associated with diseases and pathologies of the human body

False positive ELISA for HIV may be for other reasons. Immunoenzymatic research is aimed at identifying antibodies to a dangerous disease. There are a number of cases when the human body begins to produce antibodies. What is the reason for this phenomenon.

A positive AIDS test sounds like a death sentence. The person who receives the test form is on the verge of hysteria. And there is nothing surprising in this. It is important to know that not always AIDS positive indicates that there is a virus in the body. Sometimes the results are false positive. In order not to panic and act correctly after passing the test for the immunodeficiency virus, you should know which studies you need to focus on, in which cases a false positive result is possible.

Positive rapid HIV test at home: what to do?

Despite the fact that many AIDS centers and public clinics guarantee anonymity when taking tests for the presence of a terrible disease, some people are afraid of publicity. They prefer to do tests at home, since you can buy them at almost any pharmacy. A positive HIV result is displayed on the tester as two lines. But they do not always mean that a person is really infected.

There are many factors that can cause an HIV test result to be positive. This and some diseases, as well as pregnancy, hormonal disruptions. Even PMS, which women experience once a month, can cause two lines to appear on the test. A positive HIV (AIDS) test done at home is not a reason for a diagnosis. It is important to know that in order to establish it, more than one study is required. And they are carried out only in laboratory conditions. If a home HIV test shows a positive result, you should immediately visit a doctor.

An experienced specialist will refer the patient to a primary study, and then, if necessary, to an additional one. Only in this case we will talk about the diagnosis. It is important to know that it is possible to donate blood for the presence or absence of a terrible disease in the body without a referral from a therapist or immunologist. For this, it is not necessary to go to a private clinic. Such a study is carried out free of charge in state budgetary clinics. By the way, you can go through it anonymously. This is the only correct answer to the question of what to do if the HIV test is positive.

ELISA - HIV positive: what does it mean?

To identify this viral infection, several types of research are used. A positive test for HIV, AIDS, which is carried out first, as well as in the previous case, is not a reason for making a diagnosis. This is an enzyme immunoassay. This is the primary method for diagnosing the immunodeficiency virus. It is designed to identify healthy and conditionally infected people. What does HIV positive mean in this case? For specialists in the field of medicine, this is an occasion to send a person for additional research. For a person who received a form with a positive test for HIV, it is practically a sentence. That is why doctors should pay attention to how information about a possible infection is conveyed to a person.

In most cases, the patient is not told that his first HIV test is positive. He is called to a clinic or other medical institution and sent for another analysis. Why are positive results for HIV infection in enzyme immunoassay questioned? The fact is that it is aimed at identifying antibodies to the disease. They are, of course, specific, but similar in structure to other antibodies that are produced by the body in some cases. We are talking primarily about certain diseases and pathologies of the human body. However, there are other factors that can lead to the fact that the transcript of the HIV test will be positive. This is a pregnancy that significantly changes the hormonal background. And the hormonal system, as you know, is extremely important, since it is she who reacts sharply to any changes and is responsible for the normal functioning of many organs.

The same goes for pregnancy. A positive response to an HIV test in pregnant women is a common phenomenon. The appearance of new DNA when mixing two genetic materials, which occurs during the fertilization of an egg, can be perceived by the immune system in an extraordinary way. Considering it as foreign material, it can begin to produce antibodies that are similar in structure to those that are secreted by the immunodeficiency virus. That is why a blood test for HIV - positive - is not uncommon during pregnancy.

How accurate is the immune blotting result? Why is HIV positive and what does it mean?

If the ELISA test gave a positive HIV, what does this mean and entail? After the enzyme immunoassay, the person is sent for immune blotting. This test detects antigens. The error in this case is practically excluded. With IB, HIV positive with almost a 100% guarantee means that a person is infected. The error can be only in three percent of cases. We are talking about the error of the analysis itself, the reliability of which is ninety-seven - ninety-nine percent. There are other cases when a person is told on the basis of this test that his HIV status is positive and he is infected. We are talking about a medical error that can be made at any stage of the virus test. Most often, inaccuracies in the results of analyzes are introduced by administrative personnel. But laboratory assistants also make mistakes.

An HIV test is positive on immunoblotting, what does it mean if a person has taken it after an ELISA? This means that specialists in the field of medicine will make a disappointing diagnosis, after which the treatment process will begin. Prior to the diagnosis, based on ELISA, rapid tests carried out at home or in the laboratory, no measures are taken in the treatment plan. The decision on the need to use therapy, as well as on the selection of the scheme, is made by the doctor only after the diagnosis is confirmed.

With the diagnosis, everything is clear. But many people are also interested in another question: if the HIV test is positive, where and how the health workers report. Here everything is also extremely simple. Most people's fears that doctors will call the office and tell them that one of the employees is infected are unfounded. They do not have such powers. It is important to note that infection is reported at the place of residence and registration in the clinic. In the future, a special mark appears on the patient's card. It is also placed in a computer base. The AIDS center at the person's place of residence, where the final verdict on the diagnosis is made, also does not have the right to report the infection. By phone, they can only invite a person to a second appointment. And already in a personal conversation, they will advise him to notify his relatives.

HIV positive: in what diseases can it be detected incorrectly?

There are a number of cases where a person can be misdiagnosed. But with further research, of course, it is removed. The reason for a positive HIV, identified incorrectly, may lie in comorbidities. What is this about? Often the cause of a false positive test result in the absence of a virus is hepatitis or sexually transmitted diseases. They cause the production of antibodies to the infection. What diseases produce a positive HIV test? These could be allergic reactions. Moreover, with allergic reactions, it is possible to secrete antibodies that are similar in structure to those produced by the immunodeficiency virus.

What other diseases give a false positive HIV diagnosis? These are diseases that affect the kidneys. Pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, as well as malignant and benign tumors in the terminal stage. For these reasons, it is also possible to distort the results of the analyzes.

What diseases show HIV positive in its absence? It can also be diseases associated with the liver or intestines. Here, the distortion of the test results can be affected not only by a violation of the hormonal background, but also by the enzymatic composition of the blood, on which the response of an ELISA or other study largely depends.

The reliability of the diagnosis of the immunodeficiency virus in modern medicine is given utmost attention. After all, an erroneous HIV analysis has several unpleasant consequences at once. But the most dangerous of them are two. Firstly, an erroneous HIV test threatens to leave a person in the dark, which means that he, being a carrier of the virus, will remain potentially dangerous to others. Secondly, a person who could not find out about the presence of a terrible virus in his body will not take any measures to maintain his health in the norm. So, it will start the disease. After all, doctors have long been able to establish that treatment of the immunodeficiency virus should be started as early as possible. Only in this case will it be possible to prolong the asymptomatic stage for many years, which is characterized by a stable level of infection cells. In what cases is an HIV analysis error possible?

HIV testing: the mistake of medical workers

Can HIV be misdiagnosed in a hospital, laboratory, or private health facility? This question worries many people. The fact is that tests for determining this disease, related to new generation studies, have high reliability. It is about ninety-eight - ninety-nine percent. But this small error does not include the human factor, which was not taken into account when compiling statistical data.

An HIV test error due to the negligent attitude of medical workers to their immediate duties is, fortunately, not a frequent occurrence. How can confusion occur in a laboratory or clinic? First of all, it should be said that an erroneous diagnosis of HIV can be made due to confusion in the documents and test forms. The same goes for not only positive, but also negative results. Medical staff can make a mistake in this regard at several stages. The path to erroneous HIV results can begin as early as blood sampling. In most treatment rooms, the test tubes are not signed, but a form is attached to them with the date of delivery of the biological material and the patient's name using a regular rubber band. The latter can tear, fly off the test tube, due to which the form can be lost or confused with another.

An erroneous positive or negative HIV test can be established due to the inattention of the laboratory assistant, who may well confuse the blanks on the test tubes or the results. This leads to the fact that a particular patient does not receive his test result.

An HIV test error is also possible at the final stage. We are talking about the receipt of test results to the registry or to the administrator of a private clinic. Sometimes a person who transfers data to a computer database can make a mistake. In this case, the patient will not be given his result. And he may very well be wrong.

Can HIV tests be wrong on repeat testing? Re-testing for the presence of the immunodeficiency virus is usually carried out if it has not been detected, but the symptoms and manifestations in a person are observed. Purely theoretically, a repeated error is possible, but in reality such cases have not been registered. After all, even errors in the initial study are rare.

HIV: an error in the study of pregnant women

An erroneous HIV test during pregnancy is far from uncommon. In most cases, it is false positive. The exception is the error of enzyme immunoassay or immune blotting, which can give a false negative result. So can a positive HIV test be a mistake, and why is this happening? Despite the fact that pregnancy is a great time for almost any woman, it is a lot of stress for her body. As you know, the immune and hormonal systems are the first to respond to any changes in the human body. It is for this reason that the production of antibodies can begin. This is a completely logical reaction to this kind of change. But not always an error in the analysis of HIV occurs only for this reason. The fact is that during the fertilization of an egg, the genetic material of a man and a woman merges. Against this background, a new DNA is formed, which may well be perceived by the body as a foreign object. In response to its presence, the production of antibodies may begin.

What happens after a pregnant woman is misdiagnosed with HIV? A doctor in a antenatal clinic or a paid private medical center, in which she is registered throughout the entire period of gestation, informs her that testing for the presence of an immunodeficiency virus in the body showed a positive result. It is important to note that this is not a diagnosis. Indeed, on the basis of one study, conclusions of such a plan are not made. What do doctors do in this case? First of all, a woman with a positive test result should be gently explained that the probability of an HIV test error during pregnancy is extremely high. And this means that you should not panic ahead of time. With all this, the procedure for registering with the KVD or the AIDS center in this case is mandatory. An additional check in state medical institutions is carried out in a month or three months. Its essence is to identify the quantitative composition of antibodies to the immunodeficiency virus. If they remain unchanged, the diagnosis is not established. If they increase, then the patient is also checked for the presence of antigens in order to finally establish the diagnosis.

Can an HIV test be wrong in a negative sense? This is a false negative result. Yes, this option is possible. This can happen due to the error of medical workers or due to the error that even the most modern studies allow. What is the probability of an HIV test error in this case? No one can answer this question with absolute certainty. After all, no one can guess whether a medical employee will confuse the test results or not. In the case of the error of the analysis itself, everything is simpler. It is ninety-eight - ninety-nine percent. That is, the chances are small, but they exist.

HIV positive: could it be a mistake for another reason?

When making an HIV diagnosis, can there be an error in other cases? Yes, such a possibility is small, but it exists. First of all, this applies to babies born from infected mothers. The probability that they will be born healthy is about forty percent. But even in this case, the very first enzyme immunoassay will reveal the immunodeficiency virus in a child. The fact is that as a protective reaction, the immune system secretes antibodies to a dangerous disease. In order to understand whether they are the result of infection, a PCR study is performed, which allows you to determine not only the quantity, but also the quality of antibodies.

Can an HIV test be wrong in chronic diseases? This option is also possible. This primarily concerns ailments associated with problems with the thyroid gland and the endocrine system as a whole. Can an HIV test result be wrong in kidney disease? This option is also not excluded by doctors. But there is an erroneous definition of a dangerous virus, as a rule, in the terminal stage of kidney disease.