Been waiting for a week now and still no reply? Any idea when or If some one will reply?
Just to add, the Lab used was the TDL, which i asusme is The Doctors Lab right? This is a good lab isn't it?
Hello,
Thank you for your post and apologies for the delayed reply. Here are your answers:
1.) The PCR Multiplex is a PCR RNA test for HIV-1, HIV-2, Hep B and Hep C. The answer is yes, it is a PCR RNA.
2.) The reliability of 99% is at 7-10 days and this increases with time. We could say that he was right, indeed.
3.) I do not know why. I believe it is probably because it is not universally used and it is quite expensive. However it is routinely used in the UK by the blood transfusion service to screen blood that is going to be transfused. Different guidelines apply in different countries. This test is used by many clinics in the UK and even though it is still not considered fully conclusive and we recommend a follow-up test with a Duo at 4 weeks, it is highly sensitive and reliable. We have never had a single case of a patient testing negative at 10 days, testing positive later on. TDL is probably the best private pathology lab in the UK.
Best wishes,
Dr José