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A text’s HIV test score does not necessarily mean that we are sick. The results of many diagnostic tests falsify the drugs and alcohol taken.
– Before testing for HPV or HIV, do not drink alcohol – says Dr. Monika Jabłonowska from the Central Analytical Laboratory of the Provincial Infectious Hospital in Warsaw – In our laboratory there are many documented cases of HIV testing performed the day after drinking alcohol with a false positive result – he adds.
Distorted results
The medications you are taking may also affect the results of your laboratory tests. This may be the therapeutic effect of the medications used, for example, lowering blood glucose levels proves the effectiveness of antidiabetic drugs, but there may also be side effects – for example, excessive reduction of potassium or magnesium levels under the influence of diuretics used in the treatment of hypertension. Drugs may also change test results due to chemical reactions with the preparations used in the tests.
Changed liver
The medications taken pose a risk of falsifying the actual results of laboratory tests of the liver. Bad results indicating liver damage or dysfunction may be caused by taking popular painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, oral contraceptives, antibiotics, anabolic steroids, as well as high doses of ascorbic acid, i.e. vitamin C. the increase in bilirubin is sometimes caused by the consumption of alcohol, as well as high doses of vitamin C.
Color palette
Drugs also change the color of urine – the color palette is very wide: from green through pink to black. This can sometimes frighten an uninformed patient. Drugs used in gastric and duodenal ulcers or esophagitis can color urine green, administered in epileptic states – pink, and iron preparations – black. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs for rheumatoid arthritis also turn the urine greenish, and sulfasalazine preparations for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease appear orange.
Untrue kidneys
It should also be remembered that vitamin C can lower the result of the determination of erythrocytes, leukocytes, nitrites and glucose in the urine. One of the basic tests that check the proper functioning of the kidneys is the level of creatinine. It turns out that even regular vitamin D can increase creatinine levels. Increased creatinine levels may also occur after the use of high doses of anti-infective, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-emetic, diuretic or anti-cancer drugs.
Disturbed cholesterol
Cholesterol and triglyceride levels are also affected by medications unrelated to treating this problem. Both oral contraceptives and the popular respiratory drug ACC – may alter the results of these studies. Medicines used to treat allergies and antibiotics containing tetracycline also affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Influence on hematology research
Sometimes the results become reliable as soon as the drug is discontinued, but sometimes the altered values persist for some time. Low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and thrombocytes may be caused by taking certain anti-inflammatory drugs, antibacterial drugs, drugs used to treat diabetes, epilepsy, and thyroid diseases. Anemia can be caused by many drugs, including paracetamol, but also a drug used in the prevention and treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections containing nitrofurantoin and anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Consult a doctor
Before performing diagnostic tests, inform your doctor about all the medications you are taking. The tests should not be done the day after drinking alcohol. It is also important not to interpret the test results yourself, because their analysis takes into account many factors that patients have no idea about. Self-drawing often wrong conclusions may cause stress or make the patient vigilant, which will result in the abandonment of the visit to the doctor.
Text: Maria Janiszewska