HIV Combo ag/ab antigen p24 antibody p24

[macour]

Hi, this is a great Site!

Sorry for my bad english... I have done a HIV Combo ag/ab antigen p24 antibody p24 last week which result was Non Reactive 0.24 .- This was 2 months and 10 days after a possible exposure after a condom broke, with ejaculation in a women (I dont know if she was +), vaginal relation.

I done the test because I was really bad all those days.... start feeling really bad... but after the test I start feeling better.

I call the private lab and asked about which kind of test it was and they told me MEIA first, after that she told me it was an ELISA 3rd Generation... it was just a secretary on the phone, it wasnt a DR. Now researching on the web I find that this kind of test (HIV Combo ag/ab antigen p24 antibody p24) its seems to be a 4th generation elisa..

My questions are...

1. Is this test a 4th generation ELISA?
2. Is it accurate at 2 months 10 days? if so how much?
3. Should i stay do a new test?

Thanks for your reply ! (im not from USA)

[marcoland]

Dear Teak, thank's. ok.
i will wait 4 weeks more.. so far i understand you the rapid test are accurated as the other Combo tests,,, so after 3 months --> conclusive test, i can close it... so scared, i ve learned a lot.. and i hope... thanks
sincerely
m

[Teak]

Reread the very first reply I gave you, my answers aren't going to change.

[marcoland]

dear teak, thank's a lot for your reply. it's right what i mean the rapid determine ag/ab comb gives just info about positive or not without   giving  any value. now i m not sure.. should i test with another test type instead of just rapid test? is determine accuracy ok? i m really scared . i ve tested 3 times with determine all negative. the last one after 8 weeks.. but i m still unsafe.. what s your opinion. thanks a lot  for the reply! sincerely, marc

[Teak]

Determine Ag/Ab combo rapid test does not give a number result so I have no idea where you came up with the 0.24.

http://www.oriondiagnostica.fi/files/oriondiagnostica/Edustustuotteet/BRD02V03_Determine_HIV_Combo_Brochure_approved1.pdf

Page 6

[marcoland]

Hello Everybody
i have one question regarding the Combo Tets Ag/Ab. I ve done it after 4 and after 8 weeks (today) and was negative. Actually i m living in Switzerland and here are using the Determine Ag/Ab Combo test. This is a "quick" test, the results are ready in about 20-30 minutes. my question: is this the same as mentioned on the top by macour? i don't understand, what does it means non reactive 0.24? the guys here didn't mentioned a value. They Just showed me if a red strike was visible or not. Visible= positive, not visible = negativ... i don't understand..... about me... i had unprotected sex with a guy.. without cum inside but i m so scared...
Thanks , great site.
marc

[Teak]

Post-test discussion

The need for a repeat HIV test if still within the window period after a specific exposure should be discussed. Although fourth generation tests shorten the time from exposure to seroconversion a repeat test at three months is still recommended to definitively exclude HIV infection.

http://www.bhiva.org/documents/Guidelines/Testing/GlinesHIVTest08.pdf

[macour]

Teak what are your comments about IV generation tests at:

http://www.aidsmap.com/cms1323353.aspx

The addition of testing for antigen reduces the window period by around five days, compared to third-generation tests.

Different authorities give slightly different estimates for the duration of the window period between exposure and the ability of fourth-generation tests to detect infection:

Eleven to 16 days[1]
14 days[2]
16 days[3]
Approximately two and a half weeks[4]
Three to four weeks after exposure[5]
Between 24.5 and 26 days after exposure[6]
One month[7]

1) Author
Coombs RW
Year
2008
Title
Clinical laboratory diagnosis of HIV-1 and use of viral RNA to monitor infection.
Citation
In Holmes KK (editor), Sexually Transmitted Diseases. New York: McGraw-Hill

2)Author
Ly TD et al.
Year
2004
Title
Evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of six HIV combined p24 antigen and antibody assays.
Citation
J Virol Methods 122:185-94

3) Author
Maldarelli F
Year
2004
Title
Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection.
Citation
In Mandell, Douglas and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases (sixth edition). Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone

4) Author
Branson BM
Year
2007
Title
State of the art for diagnosis of HIV infection.
Citation
Clin Infect Dis 45:S221-225

5)Author
Parry JV et al.
Year
2003
Title
Towards error-free HIV diagnosis: guidelines on laboratory practice.
Citation
Comm Dis Pub Health 6:334-350

6)Author
Haute Autorité de santé
Year
2008
Title
Dépistage de l’infection par le VIH en France: Modalités de réalisation des tests de dépistage, argumentaire.
Citation
www.has-sante.fr

7)Author
The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), British HIV Association (BHIVA) and British Infection Society (BIS)
Year
2008
Title
UK National Guidelines for HIV Testing.
Citation
Available online at www.bhiva.org

[macour]

So... I will try to take it easy for 20 more days... and go a new test, after that all this HIV stuff will be finished..

Thanks teak

[Teak]

1. Yes
2. For a reactive test yes but has to be followed up with a confirmative test
   Not for a negative result when you have had unprotected anal or vaginal sex or        shared  works with other IV drug abusers.
3. 3 months post exposure will give you a conclusive test result.