HIV Q PCR Test....Please Help?????

[jimmylove]

I have been reading a lot about the HIV PCR test and have read it has a high rate of false positives.  Does anyone know what causes the false positives or is that rate based on some old research numbers?

[Vance2335]

Oral sex is no risk. Anymore questions start a thread dedicated just to your questions.

[xxxjason]

If i had a low risk situation (recieved oral sex from a sex worker who i believe was infected) and had a negative pcr rna test since i was experiencing ars symptoms. When should i take the follow up antibody test? 2 weeks after ars symptoms should be positive if they were actually ars?

[Teak]

Cross contamination.  

[jimmylove]

What Causes the False Positives? I understand it is not a diagnostic test and it measures the viral load in ones blood.  But if the test is actually looking for the virus how does one get a false positive?

[Teak]

If you are talking PCR-DNA tests they are not approved for diagnostic use. If you are talking PCR-RNA tests they are supplemental tests used in conjunction with antibody tests. So it doesn't matter what the PCR-RNA results are it still has to be followed up with an antibody test.