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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
HIV Test Accuracy at 8 weeks
by DumE, Nov 01, 2009 02:46PM
I'm very confused. I had protected vaginal intercourse and received very, very brief unprotected oral sex with a CSW. To give me piece of mind, I got tested for HIV at 8 weeks because I was told that would be completely accurate and the test came back negative. Recently, I've experienced chronic sore throats and I read that is a symptom of HIV, although I'm aware it's most likely not. I have 2 questions:
1.) I was tested 8 weeks after the incident to the day, however I was tested in the early afternoon and the encounter happened late in the evening, so I was tested 8-12 hours prior to 8 weeks exactly. Does that makes any difference whatsoever?
2.) Why do you say 8 weeks tests are completely accurate when other sources claim nothing prior to 3 months is 100% accurate and in some cases, it can take up to 6 months for a test to become positive?
1.) I was tested 8 weeks after the incident to the day, however I was tested in the early afternoon and the encounter happened late in the evening, so I was tested 8-12 hours prior to 8 weeks exactly. Does that makes any difference whatsoever?
2.) Why do you say 8 weeks tests are completely accurate when other sources claim nothing prior to 3 months is 100% accurate and in some cases, it can take up to 6 months for a test to become positive?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 01, 2009 03:22PM
, Nov 01, 2009 03:22PM
The reply from Dr. Hook in your other question 4 months ago included this:
"If you choose to be tested, you can have complete confidence in an 8 week test result. In the past few years the tests have gotten much, much better in terms of time to positive tests. In our own practices, in the literature and in conversation with other experts, we have not found anyone who has seen a person take more than 8 weeks following exposure to develop a positive HIV test and in most cases, it takes less than 8 weeks."
A few hours of course makes no difference. Over 95% of the time the test is positive by 6 weeks.
There have been many discussions on this forum about our advice versus others'. The main factor is that official agencies -- perhaps especially those run by governments, such as health departments, CDC, etc -- tend to take hyper-conservative positions. In other cases, they just haven't changed their advice over the years as new and better tests have come into use.
And you entirely missed the most important part of Dr. Hook's reply last July: You were not at risk for HIV and did not need testing to start with. Period.
You did not catch HIV. Time to move on.
HHH, MD
"If you choose to be tested, you can have complete confidence in an 8 week test result. In the past few years the tests have gotten much, much better in terms of time to positive tests. In our own practices, in the literature and in conversation with other experts, we have not found anyone who has seen a person take more than 8 weeks following exposure to develop a positive HIV test and in most cases, it takes less than 8 weeks."
A few hours of course makes no difference. Over 95% of the time the test is positive by 6 weeks.
There have been many discussions on this forum about our advice versus others'. The main factor is that official agencies -- perhaps especially those run by governments, such as health departments, CDC, etc -- tend to take hyper-conservative positions. In other cases, they just haven't changed their advice over the years as new and better tests have come into use.
And you entirely missed the most important part of Dr. Hook's reply last July: You were not at risk for HIV and did not need testing to start with. Period.
You did not catch HIV. Time to move on.
HHH, MD
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