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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
relieved, need some knowledge on the test
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum is limited to prevention of HIV and to safe sex in general. If you believe you might have been exposed to HIV and want help to judge your risk, would like advice about HIV testing, or have questions about the effectiveness of condoms or the risks associated with specific sexual practices, this is the site for you.
IMPORTANT
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
relieved, need some knowledge on the test
by backstabbed05, Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
Dr. HHH,
This is my second, and last post to you. I posted a few weeks ago about some swollen glands and hives that I had after my exposure, oral sex to completion on a heterosexual male. I tested negative on an ELISA on my fifth week, and went back my ninth week and tested negative on an OraQuick Rapid Finger ***** test. It was exactly 62 days since my exposure. I don't know much about rapid tests, and was wondering if you could tell me if this really does mean I can move on. Is this test as valid as an ELISA at nine weeks? I'm having a hard time accepting the negative result, and on top of it, I'm still dealing with the swollen glands, headaches, and dizziness. I was happy to donate another $!5 to the only website that has really given me comfort, and would love to hear your insight on these "rapid tests."
Thank you so much again for this forum and for you first response, which has been my only reliever of worries.
This is my second, and last post to you. I posted a few weeks ago about some swollen glands and hives that I had after my exposure, oral sex to completion on a heterosexual male. I tested negative on an ELISA on my fifth week, and went back my ninth week and tested negative on an OraQuick Rapid Finger ***** test. It was exactly 62 days since my exposure. I don't know much about rapid tests, and was wondering if you could tell me if this really does mean I can move on. Is this test as valid as an ELISA at nine weeks? I'm having a hard time accepting the negative result, and on top of it, I'm still dealing with the swollen glands, headaches, and dizziness. I was happy to donate another $!5 to the only website that has really given me comfort, and would love to hear your insight on these "rapid tests."
Thank you so much again for this forum and for you first response, which has been my only reliever of worries.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
, Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
The problem with rapid tests is that they sometimes give falsely positive results. But a negative rapid test is just as reliable as a laboratory-based test. A negative result at 9 weeks is 100% reliable. (You could have asked the provider who tested you and gotten the same information--and saved $15.00.)
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
Member Comments (2)
by worriedcrazy1234, Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
From my understand Dr. HHH has never seen a negative result turn positive after 6 weeks. Most people seroconvert in 25 days. You are absolutely HIV negative, congrats.
