False-positive HIV results and COVID-19 infection or vaccination?

Vitorino Modesto-dos-Santos; Taciana A. Modesto-Sugai

doi:10.54034/mic.e1832

Authors

Vitorino Modesto-dos-Santos Armed Forces Hospital, and Catholic University, Brasília-DF, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7033-6074
Taciana A. Modesto-Sugai American Society of Neurophysiology, and Dermatologist of Brasília-DF, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1832

Keywords:

COVID-19, HIV, Serological test, Vaccine

Abstract

Recently, there have been reports of false-positive HIV results associated with COVID-19 infections and vaccination, which require attention. The similarity between the spike proteins of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 may lead to cross-reactivity of antibodies, resulting in false-positive results on immunoassay screening tests. This hypothesis presents a serious diagnostic challenge. Patients presenting discordant COVID-19 and HIV results should undergo confirmation of the HIV chemiluminescent immunoassay due to the potential for analytical errors. It is essential to highlight the potential for false-positive HIV results related to SARS-CoV-2.

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