6 WEEK TEST REASSURANCE

Australia which Dr.HHH states has one of the best testing clinics in Sydney recommend s 6-8  week testing.

"Just thought I'd mention I went to see another doc today, again an hiv specialist in the middle of sydney's gay district to get a second opinion. After telling him everything, he too was adamant I was hiv free. He says he has never seen a patient(and he's seen gadzillions, and all gay)that was experiencing a true seroconversion illness ('ars'symptoms for you americans)that didn't show something on the western blot - 'something' meaning the faintest band of any type. Interestingly, he was repeating what my first doc (who also deals with hiv all day with mostly gay patients)said the same thing word for word. They both say within a week of onset of true seroconversion illness symptoms (no wonder you guys just call it 'ars') something is going to show on this test. I had two full sets of tests, (dna pcr, elisa antigen and western blot) at 7days and 21 days after the onset of symptoms, all the while experiencing symptoms, and in particular a big fat fever (that left me so listless I couldn't even think what my name was) for a good five hours that occurred four days after the first round of tests. He said the fact that your second round of tests was around 10 days after the big fever didn't register anything on any of those tests, proves you've got nothing to worry about. Further, my neg elisa antigen test at seven weeks(minus two days)post last sexual exposure (and 45 days after onset of symptoms)was further proof. I asked him about the six week thing, and he said(as did my first doc AND the people from the Sydney Sexual Health Centre that DR H regards as one of the premier STD clinics in the world)six weeks is where its at for the window period BUT 3 months for legal reasons. It certainly gives one heart."

[meworried]

If you are in Australia and your 6 week test is negative, it is very highly assuring that you are safe, and probability of your next test turning otherwise is just non existent. But I still suggest you to complete the cycle, what is the harm is waiting little more with a higher degree of confidence for a 100% peace of mind from all angles.

[ExtremeStress]

I hope this has all eased your mind. You just need to get that 12/13 week conclusive (it wouldn't hurt right?) since you and the docs say that six weeks is good enough, expect a big fat negative at 12/13.

[helpplz03]

Does the 6 week also apply to a 3rd generation ELISA or the newest rapid tests on the market? OR does it have to be 4th generation ELISA (which is ELISA + antigen). I have a  negative on the new rapid (http://www.biolytical.com/instifaq.html) at 42.5 days. Symptoms galore but cant tell if its ars or anxiety or something entirely different.

[alienshadow]

3 months is conclusive buddy

[ECN44120]

The reason for the 6 weeks window period in Australia and 12/13 week in the US and Europe is becouse, in Australia all the labs and testing sites use only 3rd and 4th generation test, But in the US and Europe the most of the testing places use 2nd generation test or rapid test, the most used is the Vironostika Elisa that is a 2nd generation Test, the CDC says 3 month is conclusive becouse of the variety of tests generations used in the US (1rst, 2nd, 3rd and 4rth), so it mostly depends on wich test you had, so if you testes in Australia you are sure your test was 3rd or 4rth generation, but if you test in the US you would probably had a 2nd generation test, Oraquick advance for example is a 2nd generation test.

[plzhelpca]

and I don't think the test generation matters at 12 weeks correct?

[alienshadow]

nope

[ECN44120]

No it doesnt even the 1rst generation test would be conclusive at 12 weeks.

[wowxer]

how do you find out what generation test was used on yourself

[ECN44120]

Ask the lab what test are they doing.

[wowxer]

bayer chemiluminometric immunoassay?

[ECN44120]

Its conclusive at 12 weeks

[wowxer]

do you know what generation it is

[ECN44120]

No sorry

[plzhelpca]

I think unigold rapid test is 3rd generation. Is this correct?

[helpplz03]

anyone know what generation essay's are being used in Canada?

I found this

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2095005

But cant really find what device a particular lab is using. I would like to get a 3-4 generation test done.

[Masu313]

I just had a UNIGold, after 8 weeks, and Negative; so what generation is that?

[helpplz03]

Does anyone know if Bayer ADVIA Centaur HIV 1/O/2 is used in Toronto Labs?

Abbott AxSYM HIV 1/2 gO assay - is this a 3rd generation assay?

[helpplz03]

Just confirmed that Abbott AxSYM HIV 1/2 gO assay is a 3rd gen essay.

[plzhelpca]

I think Unigold is 3rd generation.

[wowxer]

Bayer  chemiluminometric immunoassay

[hichic]

What is the generation of Determine 1/2 of ABBOT?
can I believe with Negative at 6 weeks with  Determine 1/2 of ABBOT?

[helpplz03]

Bayer chemiluminometric immunoassay - which is what I believe is used in ADVIA Centaur HIV 0/1/2 - and would be 3rd generation (you may want to verify) but what I was able to find pointed to it being 3rd gen. It apparently gives fewer false positives than Abbott AxSYM HIV 1/2 gO assay (which is also 3rd gen). 3rd or 4th gen - doenst matter unless you are in the 3-4 week post exposure as 4th gen also look for antigens. By the 6th week 3rd gen are better because they are more specific and sensitive to antibodies.

I also found out that the INSTI Rapid HIV 1/2 is 3rd gen so a 6 week test on that device should be okay (i'm hoping that is).

[ECN44120]

Please dont matter about the generation ALL test are conclusive at 3 months and , anyway if you want to know the diference about test and generations you can look in this two links. and look in the test manufater to know how it works some dont say wwhat generation are their test like Orasure, but you can found what generation it by learning how the test works.


http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=kb-00&doc=kb-02-02-01
http://www.who.int/diagnostics_laboratory/publications/hiv_assays_rep_14.pdf

[NCR1]

I  will stick with what the experts tell me, thats sshc, and 6 week is period. understanding that each country has diff ratios of hiv infection and australia is among the lowest , and they use 4th generation technology.

I would recomend going off the advice of your states health clinic