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High risk hiv exposure
Ok so I had unprotected sex with an escort. I was heavily drunk but the penetration was brief because I realized I didn't have a condom on and I stopped but nonetheless was still exposed. I know symptoms don't mean anything but 3 weeks after got a swollen painful lymph node on left side of jaw. Doctor said it was only a little swollen. I've also been suffering from mild headaches that come and go. I took a rapid hiv test at 26 days it was negative. Then I took a oraquick hiv test at 4 weeks negative. I don't feel sick or anything nothing flu like but do you think those tests are a good indicator of my status? Of course I'm going to retest closer to 3 months. I'm freaking out and stressed.
Now my nodes on my elbow are swollen right above the crease of my arm on both sides. Things really aren't looking good
Ok now I'm really freaking out. I felt my nodes in my groin for the first time and the left one feels fine but the right one is definitely larger and a little tender than the other. Wouldn't swollen nodes show up all at once and not just be on certain sides?
Western Blot or IFA test are used to confirm a positive test. 3 month negative is conclusive unless the patient is on chemo, taking antirejection drugs for an organ transplant, has been on an HIV trial program or is a chronic IV drug user for years, then it may take longer than 3 months.
I agree there. Why i said only the wb can confirm a pos result. But a neg antibody at 3 months are definitely conclusive. Correct?
It is not conclusive at 3 weeks or 6 weeks unless it is a positive result and it is confirmed with a western blot. Early detection and a conclusive negative are not the same thing.
So for that reason you can say that the p24 is not a good indicator for infection and that the antibody is still the gold standard and for that 3 months is the conclusive window for testing. Sounds reasonable and truly assuring but a negative duo at 4-6 weeks still is a light to bring on the road for anxious souls.
the current serologic window period represents a period of about 3 to 4 weeks when HIV infection cannot be demonstrated using antibody tests. Methods that detect p24 antigen can shorten this period by about 1 week, although not all seronegative HIV-infected individuals will be identified. Tests
Therefore, a positive antigen test does not confirm that a sample is infectious, and should not be used for that purpose. The only means available to demonstrate that a sample contains infectious virus is by virus isolation and culture. A negative result for antigen does not rule out infection, because the test lacks exquisite sensitivity; i.e., the test should not be used to verify noninfection.
Therefore, a positive antigen test does not confirm that a sample is infectious, and should not be used for that purpose. The only means available to demonstrate that a sample contains infectious virus is by virus isolation and culture. A negative result for antigen does not rule out infection, because the test lacks exquisite sensitivity; i.e., the test should not be used to verify noninfection.
1. All doctors in these forum say a duo is conclusive four weeks post exposure. Does the accuracy of the duo test increase or decrease over time? (since i know p24 antigen dissapears after a while)
THE ACCURACY REMAINS THE SAME AFTER 4 WEEKS. THE p24 ANTIGEN REMAINS DETECTABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER INFECTION, UP TO 6 MONTHS.
2. Does the p24 antigen stay detectable and ONLY dissapear after antibodys have been made?
NO, BY THE TIME THE p24 ANTIGEN DISAPPEARS, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE ANTIBODIES WOULD ALWAYS BE DETECTABLE.
3. Is there a period of time in which both antibodies and p24 antigen are undetectable?
NO, ONLY VERY EARLY ON AFTER THE EXPOSURE IF THE TEST IS DONE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE INFECTION.
r. Jose Garcia
THE ACCURACY REMAINS THE SAME AFTER 4 WEEKS. THE p24 ANTIGEN REMAINS DETECTABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER INFECTION, UP TO 6 MONTHS.
2. Does the p24 antigen stay detectable and ONLY dissapear after antibodys have been made?
NO, BY THE TIME THE p24 ANTIGEN DISAPPEARS, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE ANTIBODIES WOULD ALWAYS BE DETECTABLE.
3. Is there a period of time in which both antibodies and p24 antigen are undetectable?
NO, ONLY VERY EARLY ON AFTER THE EXPOSURE IF THE TEST IS DONE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE INFECTION.
r. Jose Garcia
No it does not detect many months after infection. P24 is good from the end of week one to the beginning of week 4. P24 has a very small window period.
Vance: useless? Where did you get that information? According to Dr . Cummings and other experts the p24 will stay detectable many months after infection. And either one of the 2 components of the test will react if an infection occurred 4-6 weeks post exposure.
Ok last question the only possible ars symptoms I have are swollen lymph nodes on left side of neck with mild pain and I've had mild headaches like every day for the past two weeks but they come and go on there own. Not typical symptoms??
5 week DUO test is usless, the P24 drops off after the 1st month. Antibody test at 3 months is conclusive.
Yeah I'm going to get one done this week which will be 5 weeks so I know it'll pretty much be conclusive from what I heard from the doctors on here
Go ahead and have a hiv duo test at 6 weeks, it would detect 95% of the infection. If it is negative u can be rest assured.
I wasn't sure if it broke or I didn't have one on in the first place either way I had an exposure with a high risk person
It actually happened it wasn't a what if. Can you just give me some advice. I'm not like the other posts freaking over no reason. I just want to know if my tests where good indicators of my status even though there a little early.
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