AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -When a person is not infected with HIV but receives a positive test result, that result is considered a false positive. Generally, HIV tests have high specificity, meaning that there are few false-positive results and most uninfected individuals are classified as uninfected by the test.

Detailed explanation-2: -The main cause of false positive results is that the test has detected antibodies, but they are not antibodies to HIV – they are antibodies to another substance or infection. Tests are not meant to react to other types of antibodies, but it sometimes happens.

Detailed explanation-3: -HIV is caused by a virus. It can spread through sexual contact, illicit injection drug use or sharing needles, contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. HIV destroys CD4 T cells-white blood cells that play a large role in helping your body fight disease.

Detailed explanation-4: -Common causes of a false positive ELISA include: administration of flu vaccine, presence of HLA-DR antibodies in multigravada women, presence of rheumatoid factor, positive RPR test, hypergammaglobulinemia (e.g. multiple myeloma) and autoimmune hepatitis.