Question:

If someone was tested 4 times within 5 months and came back negative for HIV but had general herpes, respiratory infections and a CD4 of 200 and died 2 weeks after the final test, what would cause the negative results if he did have HIV? I understand the Window period but how can someone go from HIV w/o antibodies to AIDS in 5 months and have negative results?

Answer provided by:

Daniel Lee, M. D.
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine
UCSD Medical Center
Owen Clinic

In regards to your question, this is obviously an unusual and rare situation. It is certainly possible that the person was in the window period and that could have caused a false negative results. There are only a few other causes of a false negative test which includes a condition called X-linked agammaglobulinemia. There are 3 instances reported of delayed seroconversions in health care workers associated with simultaneous exposure to Hepatitis C - 1 of which was associated with a fatal Hepatitis C disease course. A CD4 of 200 could also go along with acute seroconversion as the CD4 counts certainly can plummet with acute seroconversion. Another possibility is that perhaps the HIV tests that were done were low quality screening tests, which did not include confirmatory testing.

Nevertheless, this is an rare and unusual situation, but it is possible that the person may have just had a very aggressive strain. This is a clear example of how HIV can react differently in different people. Some people get HIV and there CD4 remains high for 20+ years, whereas others, may get HIV and have a poor outcome like this.
I hope this helps. Thank you for your question.

071017
ASKD071006

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980,2007. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.