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HIV Rapid Test Accuracy and Window Period
On October 11 I received unprotected oral sex from a man through a glory hole at a private home. I had no prior communication with him, but I did communicate electronically with the home owner, who assured me that his guest did not have HIV or any other STDs. I am not sure if that is true so I conclude that his status is unknown. He conducted vigorous oral sex. I am not aware if there was blood present in his mouth but I also cannot assume there was not.
As time passed I grew worried about a possible HIV infection. I began to develop early flu symptoms - fatigue, body ache, slight headache, diarrhea, stomach pain, but no fever or sore throat - around November 10th, all of which have mostly dissipated.
I was tested for HIV using an oral rapid test on November 15th (35 days) and tested negative. On November 19th, I developed a small, itchy rash on my the back of my right shoulder blade.
Would you consider the negative oral rapid test at 5 weeks accurate? Do you think it is worth having another test oral rapid test done at 6 weeks? And what do you consider my risk of HIV infection to be? Thank you very much in advance.
As time passed I grew worried about a possible HIV infection. I began to develop early flu symptoms - fatigue, body ache, slight headache, diarrhea, stomach pain, but no fever or sore throat - around November 10th, all of which have mostly dissipated.
I was tested for HIV using an oral rapid test on November 15th (35 days) and tested negative. On November 19th, I developed a small, itchy rash on my the back of my right shoulder blade.
Would you consider the negative oral rapid test at 5 weeks accurate? Do you think it is worth having another test oral rapid test done at 6 weeks? And what do you consider my risk of HIV infection to be? Thank you very much in advance.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You have it right. Here is a thread that explains further: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/-A-Question-on-Testing/show/1347755
If I understand previous threads correctly, then most medical professionals abide by the traditional three month window period that was established either by the FDA or the test-providing company because they submitted testing data proving their test worked within that time range only.
Dr. Handsfield argues that there is a solid evidence to support that most people experience ARS symptoms within 2-4 weeks following the infection and that rapid tests can accurately detect the presence of the virus from four weeks forward. Yet, in order for the test-providing companies to claim this as well, they would have to conduct a new, expensive round of tests and submit them to the FDA for approval, which it is just not worth it for them.
Thus, the longer you wait to be tested, the more accurate your result will be, but typically following the fourth week, your rapid test result will be a good indication of your actual status. I hope the doctor will correct me if I have provided any misinformation here.
Dr. Handsfield argues that there is a solid evidence to support that most people experience ARS symptoms within 2-4 weeks following the infection and that rapid tests can accurately detect the presence of the virus from four weeks forward. Yet, in order for the test-providing companies to claim this as well, they would have to conduct a new, expensive round of tests and submit them to the FDA for approval, which it is just not worth it for them.
Thus, the longer you wait to be tested, the more accurate your result will be, but typically following the fourth week, your rapid test result will be a good indication of your actual status. I hope the doctor will correct me if I have provided any misinformation here.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum. Responding to the title you gave for your question, before reading anything else: the rapid HIV tests have the same window period as all other HIV antibody tests. If you had a negative rapid test 6 weeks or more after your last exposure (and for sure if it was over 12 weeks), then you can be 100% confident you didn't catch HIV.
Now I have read the question. Like you, I have to wonder whether the home owner knows his guests' HIV status with 100% certainty. But it really doesn't matter. Receiving oral sex is virtually zero risk for hIV, and your negative antibody test at 5 weeks (35 days) is very strong evidence you weren't infected. For additional reassurance, have another test at 8 weeks or longer after the exposure. You can expect it to remain negative.
Your symptoms were not due to HIV. If they were, you would have had a postive HIV test at 5 weeks.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Now I have read the question. Like you, I have to wonder whether the home owner knows his guests' HIV status with 100% certainty. But it really doesn't matter. Receiving oral sex is virtually zero risk for hIV, and your negative antibody test at 5 weeks (35 days) is very strong evidence you weren't infected. For additional reassurance, have another test at 8 weeks or longer after the exposure. You can expect it to remain negative.
Your symptoms were not due to HIV. If they were, you would have had a postive HIV test at 5 weeks.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The answer is obvious from my previous replies. But here it is in black and white: those test results are definitive. You didn't catch HIV.
Hi Dr. Handsfield,
I hope you will be able to answer this last question. I tested negative for HIV at six weeks (using oral swab rapid test), seven weeks (oral swab rapid test), eight weeks (antibody blood test), and nine and a half weeks (oral swab rapid test). Are these results definitive? Thank you.
I hope you will be able to answer this last question. I tested negative for HIV at six weeks (using oral swab rapid test), seven weeks (oral swab rapid test), eight weeks (antibody blood test), and nine and a half weeks (oral swab rapid test). Are these results definitive? Thank you.
Thank you for your reply, Dr. Handsfield. Today (6 weeks) I tested negative using an oral rapid test again. Considering both my negative test rests at five and six weeks, as well as the low risk of oral sex, would you almost definitively conclude that I do not have HIV? Thank you and this will be my last question.
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