In 2022 I did a standard std postal test where I tested negative for HIV after submitting a finger prick sample of blood
In July 2023 I did another kit and the finger prick came back as reactive , I went to the clinic where they took blood directly from the vein and did the rapid test there which again was reactive. They sent the vein blood to the lab for confirmation. The first test was reactive again but confirmation was all negative.
September 2023 I had blood test direct from vein and the same thing - screening was reactive followed by negative confirmation. This was repeated in October 2023 with the same results: reactive and then negative confirmation.
Then April 2026 direct from the vein is reactive followed by negative confirmation tests. This was repeated start of April and the end of April.
So in total there has been 7 reactive screening tests followed by 6 negative confirmations. This is across 3 years, 4 different labs.
I did not do another test between 2023 and 2026 as I was completely traumatised by the experience (due to the first ever test being an unknown false positive and receiving no guidance) and no healthcare can advise me on what the cause is.
I went to my GP recently where they screened for a few different things and full blood count and everything seems normal apart from low iron and low retocytes? They screened for RA as it is a common cause and in my family but this was not indicated from the tests
Whenever I ask gp and sexual health about this they don’t give me info on the next steps regarding how I can find out what is causing this false reaction.
My main concern is that before 2023 i had various standard hiv screenings and I did not test reactive. Clearly it isn’t a lab issue or linked to a flu as this is a repeated result for 3 years now.
What could this be and where can I find more answers, my GP said that they don’t have a crystal ball to know what’s causing it. Obviously my main concern is that I have something underlying / asymptomatic auto immune disease ? I 100% don’t have HIV, at extremely low risk and have not had any symptoms so I’m accepting with the fact it is a genuine false reaction and I don’t have HIV.
I feel like I need to speak to someone / advice form a lab tech who preforms these tests but I have no idea where to find help with this or where I can ask my GP to refer me to? I believe these have all been the 4th gen antibody / antigen tests