21st June 2024

A patient is referred by their occupational health clinic in your hospital. He tested positive for HIV-1 antibody

A patient is referred by their occupational health clinic in your hospital.  He tested positive for HIV-1 antibody with a positive confirmatory western blot having been performed. He reports being diagnosed with HIV in Ghana 10 years prior and had disengaged from antiretroviral therapy shortly after diagnosis. He denies taking any antiretroviral medication in the interim.  He does not wish to re-start antiretroviral medication. His blood tests reveal the following:

HIV-1 Viral load: detected at < 50 copies per ml

CD4+ T cell count: 566 cells per mm3 (31%)

What is the most likely explanation for these results?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.