Can positive covid test actually be false-positive and actually be acute HIV infection?
2/10 - I had unprotected insertive anal
2/11 started pep after 19 hours
3/12 finished pep, took all doses on time
3/19-3/23 - mild sore throat, cough, runny/stuffy nose, headache, temp max of 99.4 (family members also sick during this time)
4/2 - headache and mild sore throat, temp max 99.4 return. also have tingling/pins/needles/mild burning sensation throughout body. rapid/PCR test is positive for covid (family members also sick but tested negative for covid)
These symptoms started after pep course ended so this is ARS right? I read that PEP can delay seroconversion and ARS as a result.
Can covid positive actually be due to cross-reactivity with acute HIV and in fact be false-positive for covid but picking up acute HIV? Some studies below show this can happen.
The fact that my rapid covid test is positive but family members is negative leads me to believe this is ARS. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1341321X21001185
I did a PCR covid test yesterday and waiting the results. If the PCR is positive, does it mean the symptoms were definitely caused by covid? Also, how could I be positivie for covid but family in close proximity tested negative?
I know I have to go and test. What is the chance that pep failed?
Recent COVID-19 Can Confound HIV Test Results
False-Positive Screening and Confirmatory HIV Diagnostic Test in a Patient with Cured SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Not Mediated by Env/Spike Cross-Reactive Antibodies - PubMed
Hi
. It is clear that you are concerned. I need to note that we are not medical professionals and, for your protection, cannot provide medical advice over the internet. It is good that your have taken the PEP treatment. As noted in this article, "The exact effectiveness of PEP is difficult to measure, but observational research suggests that PEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV by more than 80%:" https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/post-exposure-prophylaxis-pep.
I looked at the case study you cited and understand why it raises your concerns, but I do want to note that it is one case study (I did not see similar cases or research results) and most of the other research in this area has the causal arrow going in the opposite direction, with COVID infection causing positive HIV results (see here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10582350 and here: https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/news/false-positive-hiv-test-results-more-likely-among-patients-with-active-covid-19/ for example). It also may be telling that your family members were sick at the same time. Of course, as you noted, the only way to know is HIV testing. I want to share with you this article from our editorial team on the various types of tests, with information on the testing window: https://h-i-v.net/test-types. Hope this information is helpful. Wishing you the best. Richard (Team Member)
