Introduction A small portion of Corona Virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases associated with co-infections, however occasionally they turn out to be false positive due to possible cross-reactivities. The current report aims to present a rare case of false-positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a COVID-19 patient. Case report A 32-year-old female complaining from thyroid problems referred for thyroid operation. She had mild symptoms of COVID-19. Her preoperative laboratory findings were normal, except for HIV screening test which was repetitively positive. RNA PCR was performed to confirm the diagnosis of HIV, it revealed a negative result. The patient underwent thyroidectomy as planned and was given the required supportive treatment to recover from COVID-19. Two-month follow up revealed that she was negative for COVID-19 on PCR testing, and HIV immunoassay test was no longer positive. Discussion Due to structural similarities between the spike protein chains of SARS-CoV-2 and some other viruses such as dengue, Zika, and other closely related coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV), the protein can potentially interfere with the immunoassay tests. Although HIV immunoassay tests have high sensitivity and specificity, false-positive results have been reported, such as in the case of Epstein Barr virus, Influenza vaccination, and the Australian COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion Similarity between HIV and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins can lead to antibody cross-reactivities, yielding false-positive results on immunoassay screening tests. • There is a similarity between the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and some other viruses. • The similar spike protein of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 can lead to antibody cross-reactivity. • This report presents a rare case of false-positive HIV in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, HIV, cross-reactivity, False-positive, 【초록키워드】 viruses, coronavirus, antibody, SARS-CoV, Infection, Diagnosis, virus, MERS-CoV, Spike protein, Laboratory, RNA, Protein, immunoassay, PCR testing, PCR, COVID-19 vaccination, Corona, Sensitivity and specificity, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, female, Patient, Zika, Thyroid, Human immunodeficiency virus, False positive, screening test, similarity, COVID-19 patient, screening tests, influenza vaccination, antibody cross-reactivity, Supportive treatment, Mild symptom, problem, positive, Epstein Barr virus, thyroidectomy, reported, required, was performed, the spike protein, interfere, turn, false-positive result, patient with SARS-CoV-2, the immunoassay, yielding, 【제목키워드】 Case report, patient with SARS-CoV-2,