False-Positive HIV Diagnosis by HIV-1 Plasma Viral Load Testing
Authors: Daniel H. Havlichek, Elie Hage-Korban
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters16 November 1999False-Positive HIV Diagnosis by HIV-1 Plasma Viral Load TestingDaniel H. Havlichek Jr., MD and Elie Hage-Korban, MDDaniel H. Havlichek Jr., MDMichigan State University College of Human Medicine; East Lansing, MI 48824 (Havlichek)Michigan State University College of Human Medicine; East Lansing, MI 48824 (Hage-Korban)Search for more papers by this author and Elie Hage-Korban, MDMichigan State University College of Human Medicine; East Lansing, MI 48824 (Havlichek)Michigan State University College of Human Medicine; East Lansing, MI 48824 (Hage-Korban)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-10-199911160-00027 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Rich and colleagues (1) demonstrated difficulties with the use of HIV-1 plasma viral load testing to diagnose HIV infection. We, too, have witnessed false-positive results on testing for HIV-1 with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a man presenting with encephalopathy secondary to alcohol withdrawal and hypertension.A 59-year-old man known to have type 2 diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, hypertension, and chronic obstructive lung disease was hospitalized for headache and confusion. He had no history of trauma, intravenous drug use, sexual promiscuity, homosexual encounters, transfusion, or sexually transmitted disease. Physical examination confirmed disorientation without localizing signs. Magnetic resonance imaging ...Reference1. Rich JD, Merriman NA, Mylonakis E, Greenough TC, Flanigan TP, Mady BJ, et al . Misdiagnosis of HIV infection by HIV-1 plasma viral load testing: a case series. Ann Intern Med. 1999;130:37-9. LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Daniel H. HavlichekJr., MD; Elie Hage-Korban, MDAffiliations: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine; East Lansing, MI 48824 (Havlichek)Michigan State University College of Human Medicine; East Lansing, MI 48824 (Hage-Korban) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoMisdiagnosis of HIV Infection by HIV-1 Plasma Viral Load Testing: A Case Series Josiah D. Rich , Nathan A. Merriman , Eleftherios Mylonakis , Thomas C. Greenough , Timothy P. Flanigan , Brian J. Mady , and Charles C.J. Carpenter Metrics Cited byMulticenter evaluation of the NucliSens EasyQ HIV-1 v1.1 assay for the quantitative detection of HIV-1 RNA in plasmaCare of the Adult Patient with HIV InfectionHIV-1 Viral Load TestingLaboratory testing for infection with the human immunodeficiency virus: established and novel approachesMulticenter Comparison of Roche COBAS AMPLICOR MONITOR Version 1.5, Organon Teknika NucliSens QT with Extractor, and Bayer Quantiplex Version 3.0 for Quantification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA in Plasma 16 November 1999Volume 131, Issue 10Page: 794KeywordsBlood plasmaBrain diseasesEnzyme linked immunosorbent assayHIV infectionsHIV-1HypertensionRNASexually transmitted diseasesType 2 diabetesViral load ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 16 November 1999 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...