The issue stems from the use of an HIV protein to stabilize UQ's molecular clamp vaccine.
Despite posing no risk to health, the presence of the protein prompts an antibody response that is detectable in HIV tests.
However, due to the implications of delivering the vaccine to the broader populations and potential interference with existing HIV testing procedures, CSL, and the Australian government agreed vaccine development would not proceed to Phase 2/3 trials.
Australia December 2020:
https://www.thehealthsite.com/news/australia-halts-covid-19-vaccine-development-due-to-false-hiv-positives-785387/
“False test” may be “nothing to see here, move along”. Who knows what to believe anymore.
Holy sh*t!