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I Had A Flu Shot On October 8. Will That
Posted on
Mon, 5 Nov 2018
Mon, 5 Nov 2018
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : I had a flu shot on October 8. Will that effect my hiv results tomorrow on a rapid test?
Brief Answer:
Flu shot does not have any effect on the result of HIV test.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
The HIV test, tests for antibodies that form because of the infection with the virus.
This test is very sensitive and very accurate.
The flu shot does not influence this test, you should not be worried.
This is true for both blood and oral swab test.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further
Flu shot does not have any effect on the result of HIV test.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
The HIV test, tests for antibodies that form because of the infection with the virus.
This test is very sensitive and very accurate.
The flu shot does not influence this test, you should not be worried.
This is true for both blood and oral swab test.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I have read articles where it has though. :(
Brief Answer:
The flu vaccine or the flu itself will not create a false positive result.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again dear,
I am sorry for my late response.
It is true that there are many articles which confirm that flu shot influence in HIV test results.
I understand that you have received information that contradicts with each other.
There are some situations that can affect HIV test results such as treatment for Hepatitis C or chemotherapy.
In this case it is recommended that the testing should be done 6 months after the exposure .
The flu vaccine or the flu itself will not create a false positive result for an HIV test.
Anyway, you can do a confirmation test 6 months after exposure.
Take care dear,
Dr. Dorina Gurabardhi
The flu vaccine or the flu itself will not create a false positive result.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again dear,
I am sorry for my late response.
It is true that there are many articles which confirm that flu shot influence in HIV test results.
I understand that you have received information that contradicts with each other.
There are some situations that can affect HIV test results such as treatment for Hepatitis C or chemotherapy.
In this case it is recommended that the testing should be done 6 months after the exposure .
The flu vaccine or the flu itself will not create a false positive result for an HIV test.
Anyway, you can do a confirmation test 6 months after exposure.
Take care dear,
Dr. Dorina Gurabardhi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
The test I will be having is the chembio sure check hiv 1/2 assay and it seems as if it was tested using the flu shot vaccine. what does all of that mean ?
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/ApprovedProducts/PremarketApprovalsPMAs/ucm091415.pdf
will you please tell me what all of that below means ? Thank you so much. Sorry I am a quite anxious person.
EFFECT OF POTENTIALLY INTERFERING SUBSTANCES AND UNRELATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS
To evaluate the influence of unrelated medical conditions or interfering substance on the specificity and sensitivity of
the Chembio SURE CHECK HIV 1/2 Assay, 208 specimens representing unrelated medical conditions, and 110
specimens representing potential interfering substances were tested (Table 7). The specimens were spiked with
either saline (Nonreactive) or an HIV-1 reactive serum specimen to a low level of reactivity. All HIV-1 spiked
specimens gave reactive results while all unspiked samples, with the exception of one elevated albumin specimen
and 14 syphilis specimens, gave nonreactive results. The one elevated albumin specimen and all of the 14
unspiked syphilis specimens with reactive test results were subsequently confirmed as infected with HIV-1 using a
licensed Western Blot assay. An additional ten known HIV-1 nonreactive, syphilis reactive specimens were tested
and yielded expected results.
able 7
Chembio SURE CHECK HIV 1/2 Assay reactivity against specimens
from unrelated medical conditions or containing potential interfering substances.
Chembio SURE CHECK HIV 1/2 Assay
Description Saline (Nonreactive) HIV-1/2 (Weak
Reactive)
Cirrhosis 20 / 20
20 / 20
CMV IgM 20 / 20
20 / 20
Recent flu vaccination1
11 / 11 11 / 11
HBV 21 / 21
21 / 21
HCV 19 / 19
19 / 19
HTLV-I 11 / 11
11 / 11
HTLV-II 10 / 10
10 / 10
Multiparous 9 / 9
9 / 9
Myeloma 10 / 10
10 / 10
Rheumatoid Factor 10 / 10
10 / 10
Syphilis2
15 / 29 29 / 29
Tuberculosis 38 / 38
38 / 38
Elevated Albumin3
9 / 10 10 / 10
Elevated Bilirubin 10 / 10
10 / 10
Citrate 10 / 10
10 / 10
DNA 10 / 10
10 / 10
EDTA 10 / 10
10 / 10
Hemolyzed 10 / 10
10 / 10
Heparin 10 / 10
10 / 10
Icteric 10 / 10
10 / 10
Lipemic 10 / 10
10 / 10
Elevated Protein 10 / 10
10 / 10
Elevated Triglycerides 10 / 10
10 / 10
1Collected within 6 months of vaccination
2Fourteen samples were confirmed reactive, using a licensed WB assay
ng a licensed WB assay
1Collected within 6 months of vaccination
2Fourteen samples were confirmed reactive, using a licensed WB assay
3One sample was confirmed as containing HIV antibodies by using a licensed WB assay
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/ApprovedProducts/PremarketApprovalsPMAs/ucm091415.pdf
will you please tell me what all of that below means ? Thank you so much. Sorry I am a quite anxious person.
EFFECT OF POTENTIALLY INTERFERING SUBSTANCES AND UNRELATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS
To evaluate the influence of unrelated medical conditions or interfering substance on the specificity and sensitivity of
the Chembio SURE CHECK HIV 1/2 Assay, 208 specimens representing unrelated medical conditions, and 110
specimens representing potential interfering substances were tested (Table 7). The specimens were spiked with
either saline (Nonreactive) or an HIV-1 reactive serum specimen to a low level of reactivity. All HIV-1 spiked
specimens gave reactive results while all unspiked samples, with the exception of one elevated albumin specimen
and 14 syphilis specimens, gave nonreactive results. The one elevated albumin specimen and all of the 14
unspiked syphilis specimens with reactive test results were subsequently confirmed as infected with HIV-1 using a
licensed Western Blot assay. An additional ten known HIV-1 nonreactive, syphilis reactive specimens were tested
and yielded expected results.
able 7
Chembio SURE CHECK HIV 1/2 Assay reactivity against specimens
from unrelated medical conditions or containing potential interfering substances.
Chembio SURE CHECK HIV 1/2 Assay
Description Saline (Nonreactive) HIV-1/2 (Weak
Reactive)
Cirrhosis 20 / 20
20 / 20
CMV IgM 20 / 20
20 / 20
Recent flu vaccination1
11 / 11 11 / 11
HBV 21 / 21
21 / 21
HCV 19 / 19
19 / 19
HTLV-I 11 / 11
11 / 11
HTLV-II 10 / 10
10 / 10
Multiparous 9 / 9
9 / 9
Myeloma 10 / 10
10 / 10
Rheumatoid Factor 10 / 10
10 / 10
Syphilis2
15 / 29 29 / 29
Tuberculosis 38 / 38
38 / 38
Elevated Albumin3
9 / 10 10 / 10
Elevated Bilirubin 10 / 10
10 / 10
Citrate 10 / 10
10 / 10
DNA 10 / 10
10 / 10
EDTA 10 / 10
10 / 10
Hemolyzed 10 / 10
10 / 10
Heparin 10 / 10
10 / 10
Icteric 10 / 10
10 / 10
Lipemic 10 / 10
10 / 10
Elevated Protein 10 / 10
10 / 10
Elevated Triglycerides 10 / 10
10 / 10
1Collected within 6 months of vaccination
2Fourteen samples were confirmed reactive, using a licensed WB assay
ng a licensed WB assay
1Collected within 6 months of vaccination
2Fourteen samples were confirmed reactive, using a licensed WB assay
3One sample was confirmed as containing HIV antibodies by using a licensed WB assay
Brief Answer:
Confirmation that the test results are unrelated to the recent flu vaccination.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again dear,
I already reviewed the attached paragraph.
This paragraph explains how potentially substances or medical conditions interfere with the results of the test.
The paragraph does not refer only at the flu vaccination, but also at other medical conditions.
As you can see the results for recent flu vaccination are 11/11.
This means that the results or the test are unrelated to the recent flu vaccination.
Anyway, for your calmness you can do another confirmation test six month after the exposure.
Best wishes dear.
Take care,
Dr. Dorina Gurabardhi
Confirmation that the test results are unrelated to the recent flu vaccination.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again dear,
I already reviewed the attached paragraph.
This paragraph explains how potentially substances or medical conditions interfere with the results of the test.
The paragraph does not refer only at the flu vaccination, but also at other medical conditions.
As you can see the results for recent flu vaccination are 11/11.
This means that the results or the test are unrelated to the recent flu vaccination.
Anyway, for your calmness you can do another confirmation test six month after the exposure.
Best wishes dear.
Take care,
Dr. Dorina Gurabardhi
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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