A false positive result is when a diagnostic test is positive but is wrong. In the case of HIV, we do not know that it is an incorrect result until we do a confirmatory test with a negative result. It is a very unpleasant and stressful situation for the patient and should be avoided as much as possible.
What are the main causes of a false positive result in HIV?
A colloquial way of describing it is that there is something (other than HIV) that “stimulates” the patient’s immunity. At Open House we take extra precautions to minimise the false positive rate in our tests, this knowledge we have acquired through our 16 years of experience diagnosing HIV.
elow are 7 situations that represent 95% of the risk factors that we have identified in Open House:
- Herpes – having cold sores or an active herpes infection is the main cause of having a false positive result for HIV.
- Syphilis – in someone with active syphilis we do not test for HIV until the syphilis is properly treated.
- Other STIs – our first false positive HIV test in 2007 was in a patient with an active gonorrhoea infection.
- Other infections – any other active infection can cause this type of false positive result.
- Fever, pregnancy and autoimmune diseases.
So I can’t do HIV tests if there are any active risk factors?
For several years, at Open House we have had an HIV test called PCR, it is a test with practically no false positives and it is a way of testing for HIV in people with these risk factors. If you have experienced a possible false positive result and want to talk to us, write to us on the contact form or call our clinics.
Dr. Atef Souied Espada
Dear Sir/ Madam, After reading through your article especially on being misdiagnosed HIV positive if there are other preexisting conditions, I am made to believe I was misdiagnosed, because I had acute Herpes simplex virus a d had sores at the time I was diagnosed with HIV virus..my wife was said to be discordant. I have lived with the stigma since the year 2016 September 26th to date. I am on medication to date.
I suspect mine was a misdiagnosis but either way, I have learned to live life positively despite my wife not wanting any intimate relationship any more .to an extend she has been cheating on me. It’s really hurting….my email is ********@gmail.com…I welcome any advise from your end. I live in Kenya.
Good evening, Peter:
Usually, when a test of HIV is positive, it is needed another confirmation test to be sure of that, before taking the medication. But I don’t know how that works in your country.
You have to know, as you are taking your medication, and if you do the normal follow up and your viral load is negative, you are not contagious. In addition, your wife can take medication to not be contagious as well.
I am so sorry about you live with this feeling of hurting. I want you to know that HIV doesn’t define you, I am sure you are more than that, so I am glad that you learn to live positively.
Keep well,
My best regards
Dr. Julieta Domingorena