Misdiagnosis of HIV Infection

Abstract

Letters5 October 1999Misdiagnosis of HIV InfectionJosiah D. Rich, MD, MPH, Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, and Timothy P. Flanigan, MDJosiah D. Rich, MD, MPHBrown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Rich)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Mylonakis)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Flanigan)Search for more papers by this author, Eleftherios Mylonakis, MDBrown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Rich)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Mylonakis)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Flanigan)Search for more papers by this author, and Timothy P. Flanigan, MDBrown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Rich)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Mylonakis)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Flanigan)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-7-199910050-00031 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Palmas suggests that different levels of diagnostic sensitivity (1) could help minimize false-positive results. Prospective studies can evaluate this issue and quantify the frequency of misdiagnosis of HIV infection by HIV-1 plasma viral load testing. In the meantime, physicians should use caution in diagnosing HIV infection solely on the basis of a detectable HIV-1 plasma viral load. However, we continue to encourage efforts to rapidly and accurately diagnose acute HIV infection. This is a responsibility for all care providers, not just specialists in the field.Goodman and colleagues describe the converse situation, in which an undetectable HIV-1 ...