questions about the HIV proteins: i'm reading info that they )the viral bands) are not unique to HIV alone but to other viruses as well in addition to other medications and vaccines setting them off on the elisa and western blot tests. does anyone have any info as to what factors can produce false positives? i'm new to this, so please be patient if this sounds stupid or redundant. i'm a fast learner so will have better questions in the future.
thanks.

The first test is an (ELISA TEST ) which searches for (ANTI-HIV-ANTIBODIES ) if an event the test (REACTS) to the blood specimen a follow up test is given called the (WESTERN BLOT )
Now the elisa test is much more sensative than the western blot but not as specific meaning a very high concentration of certain ot antibodies can also cause a false positive for example a ( HEPATITIS VACCINE ) or even ( SYPHALIS ) now I'm not saying they will definately set off an elisa but ( CAN)
In most cases a false posative is rare but doese occure.
If an elisa test does react to a blood sample then the blood sample is tested again using a western blot which means the antibodies are tested on the ( P-24 ANTIGEN ) which is the ( RNA PROTIEN ) that hiv is made up of if the antibodies attack the hiv viral protiens then the person is unquestionably positive and then a ( PCR TEST ) is given to measure the amount of hiv viral protien are in the blood .
Depending on how much hiv is detected in the blood will help to determine when and if the person needs to start treatment with ( ANTIRETROVIRAL THERIPY ) using a combination of medications .
I hope I've answerd some of you're questions ;)
In good health ..............
................. Lost Spirit ...............

thanks for the info. learning as i go. but i'm reading info (and i know there will be all kinds of crap out there) in medical articles that suggest that the hiv antigens, the p24, p51, 120/160 and so forth are not unique to hiv, that they also belong to other viral/bacterial groups which suggests that people producing these antigens may not be b/c of hiv, but some other 'thing.' also, is it possible to have the antibodies in your system for hiv but undetectable on viral load. again, thanks for the info and your input.

That is a very very tricky question .
A (PCR) in most cases can detect between 500 to 700 copies of hiv in the blood .
Depending on how sensative the test used is .
When someone who is hiv positive starts a regemin of ( ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUG THERAPY ) it will knock the viral protiens out of the blood but hiv does have many places to hide in for example .......
Bone marrow , the brain , lymphnodes , the spleen , tonsils , the liver , nervous system , ect ........ An ( ELISA TEST ) will detect the antigens ( THAT PART IS TRUE ) and become ( REACTIVE ) and yes the antigens are also not just unique to hiv alone and that's why a ( PCR TEST ) is not conclusive to diagnose an individual who has had a questionable exposure to some one with unknown hiv status .
Remember .......... ( ELISA ) is much more sensative than the ( WESTERN BLOT ) but not as specific and the reason being is for earliest possible detection of hiv .
If the result is a ( REACTIVE ELISA ) the the secondary test is used which is the ( WESTERN BLOT ) where as the antibodies are used directly against ( HIV VIRAL PROTIENS ) BUT with a reactive elisa and a negative western blot I would strongly advise another ( WESTERN BLOT ) no less than a month later because an ( ELISA TEST ) may detect ( ANI-HIV-ANTIBODIES ) befor the ( WESTERN BLOT) has a chance .
So what we have is a reactive elisa and a negative western blot ......... Wait one more month and retest again using the western blot just to make sure that the elisa test didn't catch the antibodies befor the western blot had a chance ......
any more questions don't be afraid to ask ;)
............... Lost Spirit ..................

recently tested positive for hiv; about a week ago to be exact i'm suspecting unprotected sex in feb./mar. time frame looking at my resutlts. unfortunatley for hiv, i'm also a hep c veteran (from a tatoo in 2000), and i won that battle. did the treatment and have been hep c free for a year and a half and hep c is far worse than hiv though it doesn't get the publicity it deserves. i was depressed as hell, scared for afew days but now the resilience and determination is setting in, and i want to beat this ******* as well. not sure why i'm being tested in life with the two worst ones, but success against one makes me want to beat the next one. but i'm learning this one as i go. will say, my exercise regimen and vitamin intake helped tremendously agianst the hep c, over 3 years my viral load never went above 170k which inhep c terms is 'extremely low' on the scale. i never realized that hiv had so many hiding places, i originally thought it was simlar to hep c that it was only a blood borne disease. again, thanks for the info. take care. will let you know how it goes.

now the resilience and determination is setting in, and i want to beat this ******* as well. not sure why i'm being tested in life with the two worst ones, but success against one makes me want to beat the next one.

I wish more people had your spirit. Your post should be an inspiration to many. I'm very impressed with your determination and I'm praying for you.

God bless.

I have been hiv positive for 15 years my (T-CELL) count is around 1,000 and I also take a regimen of antiretroviral medications and also use some natural supplements to help keep my immune system strong .
I can honestly say I have never had thrush , rashes and my teeth and gums are also very good I take good care of myself .
With the medications of today people are living better and longer happier lives .
Hiv is only a death sentence if left untreated and ignord .
I am also coinfected with hepaitits-C ( mixed genos) and have little or no problems and my viral load is at around 2 and 1/2 million which is fairly low .
I'm very sorry for you're positive result and for what you're going through but being hiv+ is not the end of the line for you and there is help and treatment for and many many caring people here also to help you .
When I first became infected I was very angry,scared,alone and I felt like a ticking time bomb of disease .
A few months later I developed a cold ( and for me that was it ) I thought it was over .
I thought to myself ( My God I'm going to die from a stupid cold because it will lead to pneumonia and kill me )
I didn't know much about either disease BUT my body did fight it like any other normal cold or flu.
I'm sure you're going through a lot of thoughts emotions and fears right now but don't give up because you can also live a very long happy life .
Please post back ...........
I'm here for any other questions .........:angel:
In good health and friendship ............. :angel:
................. Lost Spirit ............

again, thanks for the info and kind words. will most definitely stay in touch. which type of hep c do you have and are you considering treatment for it? former 1b here.

Well,just keep taking care of yourself as you are now, and keep up the positive attitude. There are lots of wonderful people here, and we're ALWAYS ALWAYS here for you.
-Sarah

Dear a49: I've been HIV + for the past eleven yrs. My T-cell count has never been over 200 and although I recently had my spleen removed my count is now higher than it's been in over a year and a half. My viral load, by the way, is undetectable. My point is that this site is the most fantastic thing that I've found in terms of support and information in years. You will meet incredibly brave and informed people, some who are postive and some who are not. Listen to them and don't be afraid to ask any question that comes to mind. We all have times when we are down emotionally and physically, but I think that one of the real rewards is, not only have people with whom to share your concern and frustration, but also that you will be there for others and can get through their rough spots. In the recent months, when I was really at a quandry, it was people like lost spirit and panaSonique (sarah) and nyxin who got me through it. I feel particularly blessed by having them in my life as, I hope, will you. God bless you and hang in there. Chris

hey, thank you very much, i do appreciate it. and so far i do like what i've seen and read from people. will definitely be sticking around. anybody ever have bbq's or get togethers lol? thanks again.

Goodness, I wish! I don't think we're allowed to give out contact info and stuff,but I would really love to meet all my new favorite friends. I really feel like I've met alot of REALLY great friends since I've been posting here. And it's nice to welcome you to the family :)
-Sarah

ah, so i'm not allowed to say something like 'i'm in texas.' :nono:

that would be cool though, i haven't seen where we can PM people to do that on here. tha would be a nice feature.

I'm in for the BBQ! :) Don't forget me!!

Hey - A real Texas BBQ?! I know that it does sound odd, that we have all these secret names and all. When I first signed on I used my real name and then got freaked that people would know me, that someone I know would stumble onto this site and go, "Holy crap, did you know.......was HIV + and then I'd be ruined, destiture, homeless, washed up, hung out to dry, etc. etc. etc. because here I was responding to an HIV post. So, I had to ask to change my posted name although I still sign with my real name. Odd, isn't it?
I don't know how'd we all manage to get together except here but it is soooo cool having you all to turn to.
If we ever do have a BBQ, those of us in Florida would be willing to bring some gator tail and catfish. chris

Chris already owes me a steak :Dlol

Dear L.S. At the very least I owe you a steak...more than likely, I owe you the whole damn cow. chris

Well seems like youre feeling better chris :)
And recovering much better than even you had expected .
:D
My spleen has been gone for 13 years .........and I don't even miss it .....LOL...
But anyways I'm glad you're doing great .

Dear L.S. So, you couldn't tell me that you were spleen-less!? Geez, what are friends for, anyway?

You're absolutely right - the outcome was so much better than I predicted. Did I tell you that I had gone to an attorney, had my will updated, a new health care surrogate and living will drafted and, since the attorney and I once attended the same church, told him that, if anything happened, "I wanted a Mass at the Cathedral", who the eulogists were to be and that my ashes were to be strewn on the beach in Carmel "on the outgoing tide." Pretty dramatic, huh? Now, most of my friends laugh at me, but I was so freaked out my the prospect of the surgery, that I was almost considering not going through with it.

I was scheduled to go to ICU post-op and then, Reverse Isolation, after that. However, they did pre-op blood draws, and the surgeon came out after surgery and told my family that my pre-op labs were perfectly normal and he was sending to the floor after recovery. SInce then, my labs have been all within normal limits and my T-cell count is higher than it's been in two years!

And, you couldn't tell me...? Well, I'm not re-thinking the steak I owe you. But I'm definately re-thinking the cow...

Anyway, as I've said before, you will never really know how grateful I was/am for your endearing support and concern. You made that prospect all the easier to bear. Chris

Well you asked for an opinion from a hiv+ person that survived ....... And one did ...:D LOL
Well anyway the spleen is 1 less place for the hiv to replicate and chances it was slowly doing south for many years .
I sufferd a ruptured spleen ( but I just didn't want to say anything at the time )
But 13 years later here I am .
Be well :angel: be happy :) and most of all keep smiling :D
Because we all love you ...........
............. Lost Spirit ..............

Shucks, LS, now I'm back to owing you the whole damn cow...

alright now, this man knows how to eat too, so don't leave me out. love some good steak!!!!

I know it's not possible, but it fun to fantasize about all of us getting together sometime, huh? You know like who are these people? What do they look like? How tall is Lost Spirit? What's Sarah look like? And Nyxin? Does Abakos49 have blond hair or dark brown? You all are the best! chris

It's so funny, because just through these boards, I have an image of you all in my head. And don't worry, you're all gorgeous. Actually, Lost Spirit, your image reminds me of a friend of mine for some reason. Yes, i'll keep dreaming of the day we can eat gator tail and bbq.
And it's my bedtime, how convienent

I thought LS was female - so I guess I was way off. :) I have in image of you Sarah and Chris. Might I say, you both look great!! What's your secret?

Ummmm thanks spectalular .......
Well anyways :DLOL.........
Its amazing how much love people can give and especialy how caring ...
Its good to see .............people still care and love and that's the way it should be :angel:
Hiv , hepatitis , std's , cancer , and the many other diseases out there .
THERE ARE A MILLION WAYS TO DIE BUT ONLY ONE WAY TO LIVE :angel:
And I hope all of you find you're own personal path to follow ........ With happiness every step of the way .........:)
In Hope , Love , Happiness , and Good Health......................
.............. Lost Spirit ....................

Ummmm thanks spectalular .......
Well anyways :DLOL.........
..

Hey, LS, that's only because you are so darned caring and compassionate. :angel: :angel:
Now I see you are just on of those rare, wonderful guys...not looking to shabby either. :D

Seriously, all we need is a bottle of Chardonnay and a hot tub and it would be the perfect Hallmark moment. chris

You're pretty great youreself spetacular ......
All of you :angel: