Recent COVID-19 Can Confound HIV Test Results

A positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result with 2 weeks of HIV combo testing substantially raised likelihood of a false-positive HIV test.

Testing for HIV-1 during or shortly after COVID-19 is a common scenario; however, the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the accuracy of HIV screening has not been formally assessed. Investigators in Detroit retrospectively examined HIV antigen/antibody (fourth generation or combo) assay results in persons who also underwent a PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 within the next 2 weeks. HIV testing consisted of a combo test with a follow-up PCR test for HIV RNA to differentiate between true-positive (TP) and false-positive (FP) results. To determine the contribution of HIV antigen versus antibody in a positive screening test, cut-off indexes were analyzed for the two measures from the combo test.

About 32,000 records from March 2020 to January 2022 met e…

Reviewing Author

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Recent COVID-19 Can Confound HIV Test Results

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Reviewing Author