I did an HIV test today. It came back non-reactive. But I am worried coz the test report showed that an s/co ratio was 0.53. It was non reactive since it was less than 1. But what does the number 0.53 mean? The doctor told me that the test is considered negative if the value is less than 1...but why? What happens at 1? What is the difference between 1 and 0.53 ?Is it possible that I have HIV?
2007-01-28 15:53:37 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ STDs
Yusef, please, stop obsessing about this. We have been e-mailing back and forth over this and I've explained this to you as best as I can. The ELISA test is very sensitive, meaning it detects anything that it *thinks* might be an HIV antibody. However, the ELISA test is not very specific, meaning occasionally it will flag a few things that aren't really HIV antibodies, creating an indeterminate or even false positive result.
Doctors use the ELISA because they want to detect the highest rate of HIV+ people with the most cost effective, widely available test. As I told you before, it's a little bit like a urine drug screen, there will be a level such as 300 ncg/mL because levels below that could have been picked up by something like eating poppy seeds or handing a dollar bill that has cocaine on it - thus insignificant.
So - again - anything <1 on the ELISA is considered non-reactive or negative for HIV. It's true they are usually around .25-.35 but yours is still .53, well below the 1. Anything between .9-1.1 is considered indeterminate is will be retested and confirmed with the Western Blot which is more *specific* for HIV. Also, as I stated, you can get the PCR test, which actually looks into the blood for the actual HIV *virus* itself, not just antibodies, so this test can be used very early after exposure, literally the same day even. But this test is not widely available and is expensive so your doctor won't use it without a good reason.
I think you must have a reason for this unhealthy obsession. You must be engaging in risky behavior still, or know someone who is, otherwise why would you be so worried after repeat HIV tests? Go to your doctor and come clean, tell him/her about your worry, that you can't sleep at night and are asking advice from strangers on the internet, most of whom don't know anymore than you. You've gotten many good answers, yet still you keep asking, what do you want us to say? That you are seroconverting? If you think that, clearly we can't talk you out of it. I can try to explain this to you, as can others who have knowledge of this subject, but NO ONE here at Y!A can explain it better than your doctor.
2007-01-29 04:28:32 · answer #1 · answered by BabyRN 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well the numbers does not say much. It is not like blood count it is more of REACTION That is why its non-reactive ( nothing in your body is reacting to the antibody / antigens we are introducing). I'm not sure what kind of machine or what particular test was done to your blood but in the hospital where I work, those number is insignificant as long as the final verdict (signed by patholgist and lab analyst ) is non-reactive. Those numbers are just what come out from the machine. It may have read other substances in your blood. Hope this helps. God bless
2007-01-29 03:19:26 · answer #2 · answered by justurangel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no the difference between 0.53 and 1 is quite a bit. you do not have HIV you dont have to worrie. the differienc is that in witch the HIV can exist is 1+ any thing below there cant be a HIV because it would not be able to "live". just be safe and use a condome be carful of who you sleep with talke to them before you do any thing.
good luck and dont worrie :)
2007-01-29 00:00:42 · answer #3 · answered by FFCarlos 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you just quit what ever it is that makes you worry about aids. Seems to me the easiest thing to do rather than put yourself through this ****. change oh man
2007-01-28 23:58:23 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
www.health.state.ny.us/diseases
/aids/testing/rapid/faqs.htm -
This looks like it had some reliable info. i hope it helps and i hope I stuck it on the page correctly
2007-01-29 00:29:40 · answer #5 · answered by PJ H 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.The doctor would have told you if you were a carrier.
2007-01-28 23:59:11 · answer #6 · answered by Elaine814 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOU COULD BE HIV NEGATIVE , WHICH MEANS YOU COULD BE CARRYING THE VIRUS FOR AIDS.
2007-01-28 23:57:15 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
This is a question for a Dr...why not ask one...
2007-01-28 23:56:31 · answer #8 · answered by Chrys 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋