Brent Said:

Is there any medicine for HIV POSITIVE?

We Answered:

Here is a list of available treatments:
http://www.aidsmeds.com/List.htm
Here is a list of currently approved drugs for HIV:
http://www.aidsmeds.com/lessons/DrugChar…

The recommended reading list is here:
http://www.aidsmeds.com/Books.htm

Herman Said:

HIV positive test, then Negative?

We Answered:

You probably do NOT have HIV infection. But you need more follow-up testing of BLOOD HIV-1 antibodies.

Yes, the typical profile of acute HIV seroconversion is for you to have had a positive "viral load" with negative EIA back in March 2006. But within 6 weeks usually, your serum antibody to HIV (the EIA and the Western Blot) should have turned positive. And if you really had acute HIV seroconversion illness back then, your viral load should have been in the MILLIONS, not 20,000, which is very low.

Every test since then has shown undetectable viral load - that may be because you have had good treatment or because you do not have infection. f you never had a documented serum antibody test that was positive, then you might truly have had a false positive initial viral load assay (March 2006)-- translation - you may not have HIV infection at all. The HIV viral load tests have a known false positive rate of 1.9 % to 3%, so yes, it is well known that this occurs, and this is why we do not use viral load testing to determine if someone is HIV infected, unless acute seroconversion illness is suspected.

No, there is no currently available treatment nor combination of treatments that can cure HIV infection - IF the infection is there, it is unfortunately there for life.

Yes, orasure does differ from HIV antibody blood tests. There HAVE been a large number of reports of false-POSITIVES with the orasure kit, (see references below, esp the CDC report) which are reported from San Francisco and from New York City within the past two years.

However, I'm unaware of any reports of problems with false NEGATIVES. A false negative is extremely rare. The original testing of that kit showed a sensitivity of 97.5% to 99.5% -- that means that out of 431 high risk persons tested, all of whom proven to have HIV, only 2 had falsely negative orasure tests (http://www.fda.gov/Cber/PMAsumm/P950004S… . Note that the HIV antibody (which is what you are testing for with your orasure kits) does NOT become negative with proper treatment of HIV. So if you have persistently negative tests, it is more likely that you do NOT have HIV infection. By looking at the numbers I've mentioned, there is up to a 3 / 100 chance that you have no HIV infection, but a 2/431 = 0.5% chance that you do have infection with a persistently negative Orasure test.

This story is very suspicious - I smell a rat. You need to get serum antibody testing for HIV infection.

Your doctors should have checked an HIV antibody by BLOOD test sometime within the past two years - if your blood HIV antibody were positive (most often within 6 weeks of infection), then this would prove that you have HIV infection. If such serum antibody testing were overlooked, and never done , then do it now. If it is still negative, you probably do not have HIV infection.

Most definitely see your HIV specialist to look into this further.

Cynthia Said:

she is HIV positive she take some medicine everyday doctor said virus are low can she get cured for some years

We Answered:

NOT "cured" as you say but she can be "symptom-free" for a very long time if she keep in medication, healthy living and avoiding risky behavior. See for example ex NBA player Magic Johnson, he's been symptom-free over the last 15 years (but ofcouse he has plenty of money to get the best medical help).

She still can infect others.

Joseph Said:

How long does the flu like symptoms lasts for people NEWLY positive to HIV?

We Answered:

Germ guy gave you a great answer. Most people who are infected have NO symptoms for several years. The lack of symptoms is one of the reasons that testing is so important. Once someone is infected, they can pass the virus to others, even if they have no symptoms, and even before it would show up on tests. (More than 98% of people would test positive within 3 months, but in rare cases, it could take up to 6 months for someone to test positive.)
Treatment for HIV is generally started once the CD4 count drops to a certain level.

Ruben Said:

im scared i wont be able to afford hiv medication .?

We Answered:

Yes, insurance covers HIV meds. They are VERY expensive. All else fails, there's medicaid.

Hopefully, things will work out for you. Learn from this experience and PLAY SAFE.

Ricardo Said:

My friends wife is HIV positive and he wants to take her to Dubai. My friend has a good job offer in Dubai.

We Answered:

Hey it is very difficult for her to get spouse visa as she has to undergo medical test and her condition will be known to the authorities immediately. They will then deport her immediately..... This could cause your friend unpleasantness as he would be under immediate scanner for the same condition since his wife is infected and thereby possiblity of his deportation also.

However your friend can take his wife to Dubai on visit visa for which there is no medical test done those days ( i am not sure of the same these days). You could find this out and the maximum time she could stay is 60 days only