Prep Rapid Test:
Has anyone experienced a faulty or false-reactive rapid HIV test while on PrEP?
For context, I’ve been on Truvada consistently for almost 2 years and get tested every 3 months. I had a negative 4th gen HIV test at the health department on May 1st.
Today I went to a sex clinic because I was interested in Doxy-PEP. The NP offered another HIV test, and they did a rapid finger-prick test. The communication afterward honestly made me anxious because she never clearly confirmed or denied whether the first rapid was positive. Later, over the phone, she told me the repeat rapid was negative and that the first test was faulty/invalid.
What confused me more is that I was kind of left in the dark during the visit, so now my brain keeps spiraling wondering if I somehow have HIV despite:
- multiple recent negative 4th gen tests,
- consistent PrEP use,
- and only maybe missing one dose a month ago.
She also gave me Descovy because she wants to switch me from Truvada to Descovy.
Has anyone else dealt with faulty rapid tests or confusing communication like this while on PrEP?