Should I Be Concerned About Accidental Needle Sticking With HIV Positive Person?

Posted on Tue, 11 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 10 Mar 2014 Answered on

Tue, 1 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : after accident with needle stick with person hiv + I have test for antibody negative but virus load is less than 20 coppy at 8 month .and then one year I test antibody is negative .I XXXXXXX t understand what going on ?can any Doctor healp me ! thank so much .I am so care !

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (-4 hours later)

Brief Answer: Not infected. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health concern. PCR tests for HIV detection are the most sensitive tests which detect a HIV virus in the patient after 28 days of exposure with 95% confidence .That is if the test is negative then chances of it being right and the patient being safe are 95%. Sometimes it may give false positive report so standard test HIV ELISA is also done along with it to clear any ambiguity. In your case since ELISA antibody test is negative , you need not worry . The sensitivity of the ELISA test ‎is 99.9%. ‎ The viral load at less than 20 copies after 8 months is also also a negative test. You need not worry. You are not infected with HIV. Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Rakhi Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (1 hour later)

Hi doctor !thank you have answer . Can you say more clear why my virus load detected less than 20 coppy is negative at 8 month when some one is not detecable if nt contrac with virus . Please understand for me and help me this time because I XXXXXXX t want stransmite virus to other my love one . Thank you and hope you good health to server for every body need you !

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (4 hours later)

Brief Answer: Can be a false positive. Detailed Answer: Hello. Thanks for writing again. A viral load of less than 20 copies is almost a negative test. This small number can happen due to a false positive test. Since the antibodies are negative now there is no need to worry and you are not infected. Hope my answer is helpful. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (35 hours later)

Hi doctor ! If I get a shot for flu because 10 day I did test for virus loads .so my result my virus will go off not corset right doctor! Can you have me answer . Thank doctor!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: Yes. Detailed Answer: Hello. Thanks for writing again. Yes. A flu shot can alter the results of the viral load slightly. This is not suggestive of an infection. Hope my answer is helpful. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar