Partner got a reactive HIV test result

[Foreverstar]

Not sure if I'm posting in the right place but not sure where else to...My partner of 3.5 years got tested for STIs last week after speaking to his GP and having had a sore penis for a couple of weeks. He got the results earlier this week just before heading abroad to visit family. The HIV test came back with a reactive result, everything else clear. He needs to get tested again and they've told him it could be a false positive. I'm obviously worried. We both did an STI test when we got together except his blood test didn't have sufficient to get results for the HIV test but all else clear. I'm as sure as I possibly can be that he hasn't cheated and know it could be a false positive and also that it can lay dormant for years but I know he has had what could be called a very relaxed approach to contraception in the past (idiot I know!)...how worried should I be? Had anyone else had this? I realise even if it is positive treatment etc has massively advanced but he's away with limited contact and I can't really discuss with anyone at present...

Really? I repeat HIV tests all the time from home testing kits, usually due to an under-filled specimen container as they are really hard to fill.

My first thoughts also...

Book an appointment for a full screening tomorrow. You can never be certain your partner hasn’t cheated.

This is something that would concern me from the start. This would have made me suspicious from the beginning.

Do your own test asap.

Why wait?

Wasn't a home test, sounds like a POCT in clinic.

Unless I misread, it was POCT in clinic, not a home one

Gosh what a worrying time for you OP. You’ve had some great responses here. The chances are it is just a reactive test- not a true positive. In the minority chance he is positive , the treatments these days are excellent and he can live a normal life with HIV. Even if he is positive, again, the chances he’s passed it to you are also small. Sending hugs. hope it gets sorted soon xx

I’ve also performed reactive POCTs which have returned negative lab results! That’s never fun as it’s horrendous having to try and explain it to someone who is already going to pieces in front of you and not retaining anything you’re telling them and always late on a Friday afternoon when you can’t chase the lab for an urgent result!

The test with the insufficient blood sample was a home test.

Yes and the most recent test was a lab one.

Yes? I was replying to the poster who said it was a POCT in response to people talking about the insufficient sample test.

ah sorry, didn't realise the insufficient one was a home one - take that comment back.

OP, assume you're getting tested now - try not to stress too much because even in worst case scenario, HIV is a chronic treatable disease with normal life expectancy, arguably less dangerous than diabetes.

“we both did an STI test when we got together except his blood test didn't have sufficient to get results for the HIV test but all else clearunless you actually saw that written down from the clinic, I call bullshit. Worked in GU clinics for many years and have never seen that happen”

Quite. I think there’s more to this. And if so, I really hope he hasn’t been having sex with you without barrier contraception.

Even if it is positive. It's not the disease it was. I have several friends with hiv who live perfectly normal lives they are amazing medication that stops it being transferred to anyone else. They have perfectly normal sex lives etc so try. It to worry you do need to get checked

@WetBandits you need to reply to the threads appropriately I can’t believe someone who works in sexual health can get everything so muddled up! You have completely confused what tests other posters have referred to and given bad information based on your confusion!

What are you going on about?

Please don't listen to the posters who are adamant that he is 'almost certainly positive' (I'm particularly surprised that the poster who claims to work in GUM would try to scare you like that as reactive does NOT mean false positive, it just means reactive), the home testing kits are a real fucker for reactive results.
It does occasionally happen with lab bloods, but it's less common. We have one patient whose result is reactive every single time we take it so we have to send it off to a special lab for extensive testing each time as he is high risk for a 'real' positive so we need to be sure.

@WetBandits you put down a nurse by saying reactive home tests when OP and the nurse you insult wasn’t even talking about a reactive home test! It was a reactive LAB test!!!!! Read the posts and give appropriate advice. The home test was dodged by the OP’s boyfriend because of insufficient blood RED FLAG number one.

I’ve explained it to the OP, I’m not explaining it again to someone on a rant because they’ve got out of bed on the wrong side. I’ve seen some your comments on other posts, you are very strange and antagonistic and I’m not rising to it.

I’ve given the OP a clear and comprehensive explanation and advice re the question she asked. You have a good day now.

No she hasn’t at all. She’s given really helpful and appropriate advice based on her experience. No need for you to pick a fight and derail the thread.

Below is what they advised and it is completely wrong and also unprofessional and inappropriate to mention a patient in their care and calling that patient high risk for HIV is also unprofessional given that this patient could easily identify themselves from the details in their reply. Also trolling me and calling me names by bringing up comments I have made on other threads is stalking behaviour imo.

‘Please don't listen to the posters who are adamant that he is 'almost certainly positive' (I'm particularly surprised that the poster who claims to work in GUM would try to scare you like that as reactive does NOT mean false positive, it just means reactive), the home testing kits are a real fucker for reactive results.
It does occasionally happen with lab bloods, but it's less common. We have one patient whose result is reactive every single time we take it so we have to send it off to a special lab for extensive testing each time as he is high risk for a 'real' positive so we need to be sure.’

They put down a nurse by saying reactive home tests when OP and the nurse they insulted wasn’t even talking about a reactive home test! It was a reactive LAB test!!!!! Read the posts and give appropriate advice. The home test was dodged by the OP’s boyfriend because of insufficient blood RED FLAG number one.

@WetBandits mixing up the reactive home test and reactive lab test and saying don’t listen to others who actually gave good advice on the reactive lab test being meant that @WetBandits has actually minimised the risk to OP and that is bad advice!! The worst advice anyone could give imo!

It was a reactive POCT, which is NOT a lab test.

I can’t be bothered with you anymore, you are clearly just spoiling for a fight.

@WetBandits have you read the research and statistics on the efficacy of POCT tests? When does OP say it was a POCT test and not a lab test?

Advising the OP to not listen to the advice of others advising her to get her own HIV test and implying this advice is trying to scare her is bad advice and I am happy for you to not be bothered with me anymore. Also, please stop using replies I’ve made on other posts because I feel this behaviour is inappropriate.

I never told OP not to get her own test, you’ve just pulled that out of your arse I simply explained why he isn’t ’almost certainly positive’. POCTs are good, but they are not as sensitive as a lab test and cannot distinguish between a genuine positive and a nonspecific reactivity, which is why we need the lab result.

You are weird, rude and clearly have some other agenda. I’m just trying to help the OP. I have reported you for harassment because you’ve come after me for absolutely fuck all reason.

Nah you just completely misunderstood what she said and decided to start being angry and rude , it was as clear as day