Is chemiluminescence test accurate for HIV diagnosis?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 25-year-old boy. I had a partner for the past 2 to 3 years. We performed sex 6 to 7 times. The last was before 14 months and then had a breakup. Now I see that she is HIV positive. Now I fear about HIV because there is a high risk, and I want to marry another girl. My symptoms are a sore throat for one year, a dry cough for the last two years, and shortness of breath. I have a red pimple on my body no more but 3 to 4 and this hides after 1 to 2 days. Also itchy. I do not have a fever, diarrhea, or weight loss. I have a headache only sometimes when I work on the computer late at night. So after 15 months of exposure, I went to a doctor to check my problem.

The local private hospital doctor advised me to get an HIV test. And then, a person drew blood from my vein, and the test was received the next day. It was a rapid immuno-concentration HIV test for both HIV 1 and 2. The result was nonreactive. The kit used was Retroquic-HIV (qualpro). Due to fear of HIV, I was thinking about the possibly failed negative test, so I went to another hospital and spoke with the doctor, and the doctor recommended for ELISA HIV test but when the results came back, it was not an ELISA test. It was an ECI combo test for both Ab and Ag. The results are from the ECI chemiluminescence method and the Vitros or ortho result. 0.35 nonreactive. I do not know what is the generation of this test is. Please help me with what I can do or not do.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. Do not worry, I will solve your doubt. After around one year almost any test can rule out HIV conclusively. So rapid test is reliable and no need for further testing. But still, you have investigated with chemilumiscence test that gives result equivalent to ELISA test. It is called CMIA test for HIV and it is reliable. So I think now you do not have to worry about HIV. If any sexual exposure present in last 3 to 6 months then only we will think further otherwise do not worry and be relax. Take care.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, after one year of exposure all test for HIV rule out it conclusively. So, do not worry about that. A cough is not a reliable symptom of HIV. For cough, we want to know whether you have a dry cough or wet cough? If you have allergic inflammation than also cough can occur. So do not worry about that. Take care.