Pharynx and tonsils: acute HIV infection: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Pharynx and tonsils: acute HIV infection

Sample item

A man has fever, sore throat, a faint rash and tender lymph nodes three weeks after a high-risk exposure. A rapid HIV antibody test is negative. Which test is most useful now?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. HIV-1 RNA PCR

In acute retroviral syndrome the antibody test may still be negative. HIV RNA or a fourth-generation antigen-antibody test detects infection before seroconversion. Infectious mononucleosis is a differential but does not exclude HIV.

Option by option

  • A. Monospot test alone

    A monospot would only address the differential of mononucleosis.

  • B. Throat culture alone

    A throat culture would only show a bacterial cause and misses HIV.

  • C. Repeat antibody test after two days

    Antibodies may not appear for weeks and a two-day repeat will remain negative.

  • D. HIV-1 RNA PCR (correct)

    Correct. HIV RNA is detectable before antibodies appear in acute infection.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, HIV-1 RNA PCR. In acute retroviral syndrome the antibody test may still be negative.

Why is "Monospot test alone" not the answer?

A monospot would only address the differential of mononucleosis.

Why is "Throat culture alone" not the answer?

A throat culture would only show a bacterial cause and misses HIV.

Why is "Repeat antibody test after two days" not the answer?

Antibodies may not appear for weeks and a two-day repeat will remain negative.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pharynx and tonsils: acute HIV infection in ENT. HIV RNA or a fourth-generation antigen-antibody test detects infection before seroconversion. Infectious mononucleosis is a differential but does not exclude HIV.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Pharynx and tonsils: acute HIV infection?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.