What does HIV test reactive and antibodies negative mean?
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
If you have an HIV test done and it is reactive but the antibodies test is negative, what does this mean?
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
It might be due to the HIV test detecting the HIV antigen (p24), and the antibody test might still be in the window period (meaning, the antibodies against HIV have not been formed in the body yet). In any infection, the infection produces its antigen, and later when antigens are processed by our immune system, the body produces antibodies against the infection.
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General Medicine
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