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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Exp 50 years

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Pricked Finger With Needle After Inserting An IV. Patient, I Tested HIV Negative, Had Steroid Shot. Will Steroid Medication Cause False Negative.

I pricked my finger with a 20 gauge needle after inserting an IV. Patient tested HIV negative. I tested negative at 6 weeks and 12 weeks. I had a steroid shot the week before my 12 week test for sinus infection and before my 6 weeks test I took 3 days of a medrol dose pack but stopped early due to side effects. Will steroid medication cause false negative.
Wed, 23 Oct 2013
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HIV AIDS Specialist,  's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.

It is very difficult to rule out the possibility of delay in antibody formation in your body against HIV and thereby there could be a possibility of a false negative HIV test in your case as you had Steroids.
Anyhow it is a very short course and very unlikely to have such a false negative result in the presence of HIV infection in you.
It is better to have the test repeated after another 15 days to get another negative HIV test and to have extra confirmation that you are free from HIV without taking any steroids.
Dr S.Murugan
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Pricked Finger With Needle After Inserting An IV. Patient, I Tested HIV Negative, Had Steroid Shot. Will Steroid Medication Cause False Negative.

Hi, Welcome to HCM. It is very difficult to rule out the possibility of delay in antibody formation in your body against HIV and thereby there could be a possibility of a false negative HIV test in your case as you had Steroids. Anyhow it is a very short course and very unlikely to have such a false negative result in the presence of HIV infection in you. It is better to have the test repeated after another 15 days to get another negative HIV test and to have extra confirmation that you are free from HIV without taking any steroids. Dr S.Murugan