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False positive HIV tests

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Manufacturers of ELISA tests claim that their tests are highly specific and very sensitive, with accuracies in excess of 99%.

The clinician however should be aware that a positive HIV antibody test may be false, and that all positive tests require the sending of a further sample.

Reasons include:

  • a very low prevalence of HIV in the population
  • clerical error
  • laboratory assay error

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