ELISA/Western blot tests for HIV
Alternate Names : HIV testing
Normal Values
A negative test result is normal. However, early HIV infection (termed acute HIV infection or primary HIV infection) often results in a negative test.
What do Abnormal Results Mean?
A positive result on the ELISA screening test does not necessarily mean that the person has HIV infection. There are certain conditions that may lead to a false positive result, such as Lyme disease, syphilis, and lupus.
A positive ELISA test is always followed by a Western blot test. A positive Western blot confirms an HIV infection. A negative Western blot test means the ELISA test was a false positive test. The Western blot test can also be “indeterminate,” in which case additional testing is done to clarify the situation. Negative tests do not rule out HIV infection. There is a period of time (called the "window period") between HIV infection and the appearance of anti-HIV antibodies that can be measured. If a person might have acute or primary HIV infection, and is in the "window period," a negative HIV ELISA and Western blot will not rule out HIV infection. More tests for HIV will need to be done.
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