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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Technical Question Regarding Testing
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
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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.
Technical Question Regarding Testing
by confused81, Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM
Hello Doctor
About 4 weeks ago, I engaged in a very stupid and irresponsable encounter. I am a male and I had anal sex eith another male (unprotected). I am aware of the error I made but I am hoping that I may scoot safely. I tested at 2 weeks with a IV generation elisa and it was negative. The S/Co value on the test result read 0.29. I tested again yesterday (4 weeks after exposure)at a different lab and the test as also IV generation elisa. The result was negative also but the S/Co value increased to 0.53. The increase of this value freaked me out. From what I understand, this value is the sample reactivity value divided by a standard cutoff value. If this value reaches 1, then the test is reactive.
My question is, could the increase of this value between the first and second test mean that I am seroconverting and the number of antibodies in my blood is increasing but not yet detectable to a high level? Why would the value differ in the two tests if I am negative? I mean if this test searches for antibodies and antigen, the value should be the same if it didnt find either right?
Thanks for your reply doctor, I really want to put this behind me
About 4 weeks ago, I engaged in a very stupid and irresponsable encounter. I am a male and I had anal sex eith another male (unprotected). I am aware of the error I made but I am hoping that I may scoot safely. I tested at 2 weeks with a IV generation elisa and it was negative. The S/Co value on the test result read 0.29. I tested again yesterday (4 weeks after exposure)at a different lab and the test as also IV generation elisa. The result was negative also but the S/Co value increased to 0.53. The increase of this value freaked me out. From what I understand, this value is the sample reactivity value divided by a standard cutoff value. If this value reaches 1, then the test is reactive.
My question is, could the increase of this value between the first and second test mean that I am seroconverting and the number of antibodies in my blood is increasing but not yet detectable to a high level? Why would the value differ in the two tests if I am negative? I mean if this test searches for antibodies and antigen, the value should be the same if it didnt find either right?
Thanks for your reply doctor, I really want to put this behind me
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM
, Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM
Any OD ratio (which is what I assume S/Co means) below the positive cut-off is totally and absolutely negative. Variations below 1.0 are meaningless, resulting only from variations in the biochemistry of the test, different batches of reagents in various lots of the test kits, and so on. (The manufacturer does not intend for patients to be told the numerical results. Most people tested don't need to know and are not given the numerical results, just told "negative" or "positive".) So you are now just suffering unnecessary anxiety because of being overtested! Have one more test in a couple more weeks--which really is the only test you should have had anyway. You can be over 99% sure it will also be negative.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Good luck-- HHH, MD
was ejaculation involved?..or did the person or yourself "pull out'?
Just get a baseline test @ 6 weeks,...should be decisive.