Can HIV test be false negative in end-stage disease?

Question

Hi doctor,

I had a possible HIV exposure nine years back, and I got tested recently. The result is negative, but the laboratory note said false negatives could come during the end stage of the disease? What exactly does it mean? What happens in the end-stage of the disease? Is it because of the end-stage of illness that my report was negative?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I saw the attached file (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity).

Your report says the result is negative. The end-stage of HIV infection (human immunodeficiency virus) is AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The immune system gets severely damaged, leading to opportunistic infections or illnesses like TB (tuberculosis), pneumonia, and fungal infections.

Patients experience various other symptoms like rapid weight loss, chronic diarrhea, prolonged unexplained fever, and neoplasms like Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma, etc. Some patients in the end stage of AIDS disease may not produce enough antibodies and may give negative results on immunoassays.

That is why it has been mentioned in the note of the report. So you have asked what happens in the end-stage of the disease, which I have explained briefly. I hope you are healthy and are not having any above-mentioned symptoms.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

AIDS is the severe stage of HIV infection. Many opportunistic infections and AIDS-defining illnesses occur in such patients. You do not have any symptoms, and your WBC count is above average, as you mentioned. Your report is negative.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Answer 3

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

HIV is a short form which means human immunodeficiency virus.

When a person gets infected with HIV and do not get treatment, the disease typically progresses through three stages:

Stage 1 - Acute HIV Infection.
Stage 2 - Chronic HIV Infection.
Stage 3 - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This stage is the most severe form of HIV infection so AIDS means stage 3 of the HIV infection.

The end-stage of the disease means 'not ending of the disease' rather it means the final stage of HIV infection, that is AIDS which is more severe because HIV load or titer is high and the person is immunocompromised due to the breakdown of the immune system.

Your report came negative so I hope you should not be worried too much about it.

I hope I am able to clarify your doubt this time.

Thanks.