Is HIV testing results different at different labs?

[miracle2020]

Need serious advice here.

Yesterday my Dr referred me to see an Infectious disease DR for having a REACTIVE 4th generation test with negative HIV 1/2 antibody and RNA negative Jan. 6- but I've had 2 negative antibody tests now at over 12 weeks exposure. ALL negative results from Labcorp.

The infectious Disease Dr. wants me to do another 4th generation at a different lab.  ( Quest) because she  could not understand the labcorp results?? They said negative!! She also want me test again at 6 months.
I'm in tears and don't know what to do. I asked her so am I negative or positive, she just said well lets test you again and go from there. This has been a living nightmare since NOVEMBER!
Is this necessary!!?? I thought when you tested negative for antibodies and negative for RNA at 3 months I was done.
I've spent so much money on visits and tests already.... can an HIV specialist/ INfectious disease dr or anyone please tell me what makes sense?

[mike_no]

You have conclusively tested negative. An undetected RNA PCR along with negative antibody test at 3 months has ruled out HIV infection. Testing out to 6 months is the most outdated information any one can provide you when it comes to HIV.

It's not uncommon to receive a false positive with IV Generation HIV test since they are highly sensitive and sometimes they pick up cross reacting antibodies, if you have the herpes simplex virus, it might pick that up or it could be just a laboratory error. Whatever the discrepancy is, it has got nothing to worry since you have a conclusive result and it's proven with an undetected RNA PCR that your IV Generation test was a false positive.

Your doctor must have not kept himself / herself updated with HIV testing timelines and protocol. Although it is totally irrelevant at this point, I am curious to know what was your exposure?

[miracle2020]

Thanks Mike- you know this had been a roller coaster ride!  After seeing the infectious disease Dr- I was more confused and $300 in the hole - she was asking me what generation the tests were while she was looking at the lab results, my thoughts were well well your're the Dr- so she wants me to do ANOTHER  4th gen test.

broken condom during vaginal sex 11/16/2019 then the last oral exposure was 12/6/2019.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Oral is not a risk for hiv so your only exposure was the broken condom.
You have overtested so time to move on and stop seeing the doc about this, which is what you were told in your other threads - to stop testing.

[GuitarRox]

No, your result will be the same.  I can't imagine any doctor is asking you to waste your time and money. I'd switch to a more competent doctor.  False positives happen occasionally and you've confirmed that it was a false positive.