What is an HIV reflex test?

Does it test for HIV antibodies or the actual virus? At what point after exposure is a reflex test accurate?

If you are referring to the Western Blot test, it looks for the antibodies to HIV-1 proteins....not the actual virus itself. The WB test should always be coupled with the initial ELISA/EIA test.

These tests, when coupled, can be considered accurate by 3 months post-exposure (unless the person already has another immune compromising condition -- radiation, certain chemotherapy, transplant recipients on high dose corticosteroids etc). In these people it may take up to 6 months for antibodies to be created.

The test is to clarify the results of a previous HIV test. It is an automatic follow-up test based on a positive initial test. Reflex test is also known as a Western Blot test and is always ordered before the results are reported "positive" to make sure that the test was accurate.

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