False Test and True Love

They had both weathered ugly divorces in their thirties.  

The kind of divorce that becomes the fault line between the tectonic plates of young naive adulthood and a sobering middle age. If there had been social media at that time she would post pictures of her stunning success with her new exercise program and clever memes subtly, if not outright, suggesting her ex-husband is an idiot.  

He would, of course, post pictures of his new girlfriend for his ex-wife to see how happy she makes him and how wonderfully fit and endowed she is.   

But, it was the 1990’s and social media was the old slow word of mouth thing of such and such seen having dinner together.  Nevertheless, they had found true love and contentment in the first few months together and were both quietly excited about the relationship moving forward.  

She wanted to be sure there was nothing from the old him that might be possibly transferred to the new him when the new him became her him.  She came to me for the testing.  

I was working for a large medical organization in Georgia at the time as a family physician.  Her request was completely reasonable and we did the testing.  Results in a week.  

She felt fine and had no symptoms.  I expected the tests to be all negative (no infections).  

Her HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, came back positive.  

The default test, automatically run on the same sample, was also positive.  

She was called to come in earlier and brought her mother with her.  There is no easy way to inform an unsuspecting patient of this devastating result.  Compassion, courtesy, common sense and training teach us to sit down, make eye contact, express the true compassion that should accompany such news, and tell it as it is.  

“I am truly, sorry, but your test result says you have HIV.” 

Her meltdown was immediate and enormous.  She buried her face into her mother’s shoulder weeping and wailing the same phrase - “He’s going to leave me! He’s going to leave me! I know he’s going to leave me!” 

She, who clearly hated her ex-husband with a passion known only to a woman who gave her youth to a betraying spouse, didn’t even think about the man who had infected her.  She only thought about the man whose love she was now going to lose.  

She called her boyfriend and he came to the office.  He walked in with a strong focussed look, stood next to her in the exam room, and asked why he was there.  I told him and the color drained from his face.  

Then it came back.  

He embraced her and she began sobbing again.  He told her he loved her and would never leave her, no matter what.  They would face this together.  I had never heard sobbing change from despair to joy, but there it was.  

He turned to me - still with a focussed look - and said, “Is there anyway this could be wrong?”

“It is double checked and routinely verified by a second test, but any test can be wrong,” I replied.  “That’s why I am  going to order another one.”

The sample was drawn, we discussed the next steps and referral, and they left holding each other closely.  

She, emboldened by his love and support, told her family.  She told her co-workers.  She even went forward in her church the next Sunday, shared the story of her love and her diagnosis, and the entire congregation came to the altar to pray for her and her family.  

She, who had feared isolation and loneliness, was embraced by the heartfelt compassion and genuine outpouring of support and love - with one exception - one brother cursed  and yelled at her with accusations and condemnation before storming out of the house. He was friends with her ex. 

Then the second test came back. Negative - no infection.  None.  Not a trace. 

I believe in miracles, but I also like to know the facts.  A quick phone call launched a rapid inquiry with the lab company we were using.  The next day I learned the truth. 

Her name label for one tube of her blood had accidentally been placed on the vial for a patient who already was known to have AIDS and was undergoing treatment.  The label error in the lab down the hall made his blood look like hers. 

She had lived a week thinking she had HIV.  

She and her boyfriend were immediately called and came to the office.  The risk manager for the corporation was there, too.  The results, the reason, and the responsibility were laid out in plain language.  She deserved to know the truth and why it had happened.  

The risk manager, the lab company’s administrator and several other people with suits met with the couple again a few weeks later in the boardroom.  The lab company was deeply sorry for the “mix up.” An agreement was reached.  A large check was written.  It had a lot of zeros.   

The check was a very nice beginning for their marriage.  She knew, even at the risk of his own health and well being, he would stay with her.  That had been proven. 

The lesson?  Any test can be wrong.  Nevertheless, her false test produced the truest love she had ever known.  And still knows. 

Eric J. Littleton, M.D. (@DrEricLittleton) is a musician and Family Physician in Sevierville, TN.  Topics covered are general in nature and should not be used to change medical treatments and/or plans without first discussing with your physician. Send questions to askdrlittleton@gmail.com