My sister and I are having an arugument and was wondering if any of you can help us.

I am an avid blood donor ( havent donated in 7 mos because I am pregnant ) but my sister has started donating blood recently. It is just something we do to help out people in need.

We recently started to wonder....

If certain HIV medicines are so good that a persons viral load is unditectable does this mean if they get an HIV test they will test negative?

I was told from a guy I know who has HIV that he is in such good health that he tests negative on HIV tests.

Then our question is....
What would keep someone who is knowingly HIV positive from donating blood when they know their viral load is unditectable and that they will test negative on HIV tests.
How can blood banks and hospitals guarantee blood is safe then?

this worrys me because If something goes wrong while giving birth I run the risk of needing a blood transfusion.

If your medicines work so well that its unditectable , how are we 100% sure that blood is safe?

Correct me if I am wrong here, I could be completely wrong and that is why I have come here to ask.

Thanks

Ashton's Mommy:

To answer your question, it is true that a HIV-infected person's immune system can be in so good shape that viral load tests would come out undetectable. Fortunately for you, the blood screening process is thorough and inquisitive.

Let's say a person has 4 years with HIV and its so well that his VL is undetectable. Well, bad news for the person if he or she wants to donate...because even with an undetectable viral load, antibody screening would come out positive. So you are covered there.

Then for instance...I just got infected...and I don't know it...I have not yet created any antibodies, so ELISA tests would come out neg. Here is the other side...no antibodies usually translate into high VL. Screening for P24 protein and other advanced tests are used for aearly detection, as well as for late detection.

You have nothing to fear.

Your doing a GREAT thing by donating blood so faithfully!!

For your question:

"If certain HIV medicines are so good that a persons viral load is unditectable does this mean if they get an HIV test they will test negative?"

There are diffrent tests for HIV. One of them is a viral load test. This measures the HIV in ones body at any given time. So, with medications, and HIV+ individual COULD have a minimal and undetectable viral load, and still show HIV+ on the other test, and ELISA or EIA test. These test look for the ANTIBODIES that your body produces to HIV once you have been exposed and infected. THe only time these test could be wrong is if they are done too soon in the HIV infection, or if the patient is VERY VERY late into the AIDS virus already. As for the gentelman testing negative on HIV test, it is possible his VIRAL LOAD is so low, it doesnt indicate HIV, but the ELISA test will pick it up, even if it is that low. Each tests looks for diffrent things.


"What would keep someone who is knowingly HIV positive from donating blood when they know their viral load is unditectable and that they will test negative on HIV tests.
How can blood banks and hospitals guarantee blood is safe then?"

THe short answer is that they cant. HIV infected blood DOES pass through, but it is NOT as common as it once was. If someone KNOWS they are HIV+, that means they have had a test that has produced a positive result, because it picked up the antibodies to the HIV virus. Once that happens, they will ALWAYS show a positive ELISA test. Viral Load testing is usually only done for the treatment process of HIV, or for early diagnosis.

There is ALWAYS need for worry in life, but the chances you would get a blood transfusion of HIV+ blood is very slim. As I said, it happens, as the system is NOT fail safe, but it is HIGHLY HIGHLY unlikley that it would happen. Something you can ask about, is previous banked blood. A family member can donate FOR you to use, just you. Not all Drs or hospitals have this practice, but you CAN find some places that will do it.

"If your medicines work so well that its unditectable , how are we 100% sure that blood is safe?"

Nothing is 100%, as somone could donate as soon as they are infected, and they dont know it, and pass it through the blood. But there is EVERY safety precaution in place to avoid that, blood is tested, and tested, and there are GREAT tests in place, and strick regulations. It is much safer now than it ever has been before.

Good Luck in the upcoming birth of your angel, and if you have any other questions, just ask!!

Hi Ashton's Mommy
To answer your question.....The blood supply is safer now than it's ever been. I know this because I've been asking several blood donation centers the same question because my friend is going in for surgery and we've looked into different things such as donating her own blood for the surgery (you must talk to your doctor about this) or having family member's do the same. Also, most places do several tests on donated blood. They test for antibodies and also do a FDA approved Nucleic acid testing. Nucleic Acid testing brings down the "window period" down to 12 days. Since they test using both methods it is very very very rare that there is infected blood out there. All this information and statistics (if you want to read about it) are on the following website. Americasblood.org
By the way, you are doing a great thing by donating blood!

Thanks so much for your response to my issue. I have tested negative for HIV at 3 months and it seems I have something else but I do not know what it is. OK and now your question. You will find in most research on the web that most blood banks do screen blood for HIV, and
most of the other responders have answered how that works. They do screen it for antibodies and viral load. Way back when there was not any tests that were as effective as they are today, they used to heat the blood to high temperatures, and then later found that some HIV did get through. I know it is scary too because nothing is perfect and 100 percent full proof. If you want full safety from any transfusions u get in the hospital, I would have talked to your doctor about donating your own blood which is best, or having family members whom u know are safe to donate theirs for you. Right now there are even biotechnology companies that are making "artifical blood" that can be used temporarly during times of need, so we never have to worry about the transfusion of diseases from others. This is already being used today as we speak. Just do I search for artifical blood, and you will find hundreds if not thousands of articles of its use in both Canada, the UK, and more. I am glad you are thinking about this because you are smart, and probably smarter than many doctors who honestly will never care as much about your health as YOU! I would also recommend a family member donate, and tell your doctor that if you were to need a blood transfusion that he should have your families blood (that is if its safe), your own donated blood, or artifical blood used first before digging into the blood supply. I must tell you my mom got HEP C from a tranfusion in the 70s. She also noticed she got warts on like her arms, and has not been the same since. I know for a fact that the blood supply is not screened for every microscopic virus out there. Mainly it is screened for the deadly diseases, but NOT EVERYTHING. So, if you want to be detailed as I try to be, then my suggestion is to use your own donated blood first, then safe known members of the family, and finally artifical blood as first resources, before dipping into the blood supply. And remember our blood supply is alot safer than it used to be. They are finally checking the blood and screening donors the best they can. As they should nowadays. I still disagree with my doctor on the fact that I need zoloft because of my sore throat. I will have to just see another doctor, and keep on trying to find someone who is better and more detailed than all the rest, and knows what it is that they are doing. I am glad you are doing just that. I hope and pray you have a wonderful healthy baby, and that you yourself stay healthy and i wish you well. THANKS AGAIN, and I hope this helps

sincerley,
Jimmy