Yes.
That's all for this thread. Please accept the reassurance at face value, without second guessing. I won't have any more comments or advice.
Thank you. So I conclude that if you request a test because you think you may have been exposed to a positive person, the tests in Ontario are excellent. Is that an accurate assessment?
Thank you again.
The test gets approved for use by Health Canada, but like our friends in the US, Dr. HHH is correct that it depends on your region. Vancouver offers the 4th generation to MSM and the public health labs here in Ontario routinely do the Abbott Architect Ag/Ab test for MSM or person's with a known exposure to a positive sex partner, or other high risk group (i.e., IV drug users). If you are in Ontario, the prescriber ordering the test will have to tick on the requisition your exposure was MSM. If you have a rapid test, the only one licensed here in Canada is the INSTI test, which is an excellent test made by Biolytical Laboratories in Vancouver and gives results in under 60 seconds.
I hope this information is helpful.
I don't know what tests are routine in Canada. I doubt national health authorities have any specific requirements or regulations, and would expect that local or provincial health departments woudn't all the be same. And in any case, private doctors or clinics may provide a wide range of tests.
This forum has nothing more to offer you, so that will end this thread.
Hi Doctor. One last question - I promise!
I'm from Canada and am wondering if the "duo" or "combo" tests for antibody and p24 antigen are the common test done by Health Canada (the government health department where Doctors send their samples for testing).
Thank you so much again!
Thanks Doctor. I understand - its anxiety talking. I am healthy and that is the key. Thanks again!
You apparently misunderstood the main point of my initial reply, in which I said "test results rule: regardless of how high a risk of HIV may be, HIV testing override exposure, symptoms, etc." You need to stop focusing on symptoms. They mean nothing. Only your test reuslts matter, and they indicate you don't have HIV.
And in any case, these symptoms are not suggestive of HIV.
Hi Doctor. I forgot to mention that I had headaches and blurry vision. I am near sighted but my eyes seemed a lot more sensitive, especially to light.
Would your response here change at all?
Thank you.
You're welcome; glad to have helped.
Welcome to the forum; thanks for your question.
I reviewed your discussions on the community forum and can confirm the reassuring responses you had there.
Most of your concern appears to be the sexual exposures and your symptoms. These are not where your emphasis should be. The HIV blood tests are among the most accurate of all diagnostic tests every developed, for any disease. Therefore, test results rule: regardless of how high a risk of HIV may be, HIV testing override exposure, symptoms, etc. Of course, that's when testing is done sufficiently long after exposure. Four weeks isn't ideal, but at least 90% of the time, the standalone HIV antibody tests are positive at 4 weeks (one day shy doesn't make a significant difference); and if your negative test was a "combo" or "duo" test for boht antibody and p24 antigen, the result is 100% reliable.
So even if you had had high risk exposures, or if your symptoms were typical for HIV, you could be virtually certain you didn't catch HIV. And in fact, neither of those was the case either. These were very low to zero risk exposure events, and your symptoms are not at all typical for a new HIV infection.
So you should go forward with virtually 100% confidence you didn't acquire HIV during the exposures described, and that something else explains your symptoms. To get rid if the qualification "virtually" -- i.e. for truly 100% reassurance -- if you had an HIV antibody test, you could have another one at the 6-8 week mark. (It really isn't necessary to wait 3 months, despite routine advice about that interval.)
Of course see a doctor or clinic if your symptoms continue and/or you remain conerned about them. But in the meantime, you really should put HIV out of your mind. You don't have it.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD