If avg seroconversion is 22 days, why isnt 4th week test good?

everybody says 4th week is only 80 or 90% good but if the seroconversion is 22 days then test at 28 days should be able to find the infection right?

Last question, do the nodes from ARS hurt? Are they present in head or not

Thanks again and may god bless you all

[Vance2335]

You might find the infection but no guarantee. That is why 3 months is conclusive.

Node can do a lot of things from many different things, can't use them as an indication of anything.

[scaredsoul06]

thanks vance are they present in head and if the swell due to ars
will they continue for 11 weeks?

[Vance2335]

ARS lasts for 1-2 weeks and comes on 2-4 weeks after infection. But the thing with ARS is every symptom can be linked to thousands of other issues. So you can never use symptoms and should be disreguareded.

[mike_no]

Indeed, the average time to sero-convert is 14 to 21 days. Body starts producing antibodies to HIV immediately after infection but even after sero-conversion though the body is already producing the antibodies, the detectable amount of antibodies by the Test may be or may not be generated. Hence, to be sure a 6 week test is recommended for a super indicative result. However, a 4 weeks negative is certainly re-assuring. But the gold standard is 12 weeks to completely eliminate any speculations. (6 weeks negative changing ahead is very unlikely though).

ARS related swollen nodes are generalized that means every possible lymph gland in your body is dealing with the alien organism and are swollen. They don't hurt,

[scaredsoul06]

Mike,
But most websites(testing) www.pomlabtest.com
say RNA detects withn in 9-11 days

and www.rapidscreenings.com sayd PCR DNA tests as early as 28 days

so how accurate this tests are

and regarding ARS, they wouldnt be continuining till 11th week right and
for me only my head hurts, everything else is perfect( i hope)

Please reply

[mike_no]

SS,

NAT would certainly is a great indicator, and a method for early diagnosis. However, they are not a stand alone test, they have to be backed up by an antibody test at the 12th week.

I must say, an undectable NAT is a great indicator if you are ready to bear the cost, it's an expensive test.

Nucleic Acid Test (Polymerase Chain Reaction) :

1. PCR (NAT) tests directly look for the virus in the body unlike the Antibody test which looks for the body's response to the infection

2. PCRs are lately approved for diagnostic purpose however doctors may order for NATs if they feel that one is going through ARS since it enables appropriate treatment by early detection of the virus

3. Theoretically PCR can detect the virus as early as 72 hrs after the infection and the detection just keeps getting better along with the time since the HIV virus replicates itself in huge numbers every day, which means viral load keeps increasing every single day after the infection.

5. Comparison RNA PCR / DNA PCR:

RNA test detects the HIV virus directly in the body. The time between HIV infection and RNA detection is 9-11 days. These tests, which are more costly and used less often than antibody tests

But, RNA (viral loads) can become not detectable in some (meaning not many) cases when the body finally fights back. But on the other hand PCR DNA tests are best used from 28 days onwards, but as early as 2 weeks, because these levels will not become undetectable over time.

6. RNA PCR is for early detection, test at the 14 th day after the exposure backed up by an antibody test at the 12th week is good enough to rule out HIV.

DNA PCR at the 28th day after the exposure backed up by an antibody test at the 12th week is good enough to rule out HIV

Both are NAT tests and are highly sensitive.

7.Drawback (very very unlikely though)
In some HIV positive individuals there are cases of undetectable viral load however a hypersensitive viral load test ( sensitivity -  50 copies / ml, 10 copies / ml) are good enough to detect the presence of the virus in the body.

8.Misconception about the PCR test (False Positives)
False positive rates have drastically dropped and every positive PCR is confirmed with another PCR for confirmatory reason, this eliminates the possibility of false positives, they are very reliable after 28 days, your result would be conclusive, however just for your own peace if mind back it up with a confirmatory test at the 12th week and move on.

In a nutshell, if you have the money to spend RNA PCR is a great test but one has to back it up with an antibody yest for confirmatory reasons only.

As per my research, most experts haven't seen a negative PCR result changing ahead.

[mike_no]

No, ARS will not occur on the 11th week after exposure. Headaches can be caused due to numerous reasons. The likelihood of your head aching now is due to the long hours that you are spending on the web trying to figure HIV. "stress" . What was yur exposure, buddy?

[scaredsoul06]

Mike you are awesome dude, detailed post gave me huge hope

so if my doctor did PCR RNA at 14 days and then did antibody test at 4th week
i should have great hope right

my exposure is protected but i am worried with symptoms( swollen under side burns and stiff neck)

never had any fever, rash or any other symptoms

i thought i had swollen nodes but my doc didnt feel any

[mike_no]

You had protected sex but judging by symptoms? I'll tell you what - Your problem in this case is not HIV but anxiety. Seek counseling and move on, you are fine, Your symptoms are resultant of the anxiety and stress you are putting yourself through. BTW, yes for some one with a REAL risk - PCR RNA and a neg AB test at the 4th week only indicates a negative at the 12th week.

[joggen]

"my exposure is protected but i am worried with symptoms( swollen under side burns and stiff neck)"

Your doctor wasted hundreds of dollars in medical resources. You did not need to test over protected sex.

[joggen]

"8.Misconception about the PCR test (False Positives)
False positive rates have drastically dropped and every positive PCR is confirmed with another PCR for confirmatory reason, this eliminates the possibility of false positives,"

I am not so sure about this- unfortunately we still get people reporting false positives here like this poor guy apparently did (below). They did not repeat the PCR test before giving him the results.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Explanation-advice/show/1068233

[scaredsoul06]

thanks mike and pray to god your are right.
my only concern is what if the condom was lambskin or outdated.
anyway thanks for all your help and assurance

[Teak]

PCR-RNA tests are not stand alone tests and have to be used in conjunction with an antibody test.

PCR-DNA are not approved diagnostic tests for HIV.

[scaredsoul06]

Joggen,
My doctor didnt waste any resources, i paid for those services
but thanks as always for your advises and replies

[mike970208]

How accruate are teh Clearview 1/2 rapid HIV test at 4/5/6 weeks?  Agreed one needs to have the 12 week test.
Thanks,
Mike

[scaredsoul06]

Teak
If my doctor followed the PCR RNA test with antibody test at week 4
is that ok, or do i need to follow antibody test at week 12

[Teak]

Needs to follow up at 3 months.

[scaredsoul06]

Thanks again Teak,
Even if its protected, should i still get a 3 months test for peace of mind

[LIZZIE LOU]

* Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to action by MedHelp. Conclusive negative results or a no-risk situation will be based up the criteria MedHelp’s doctors. Action will be taken as follows:
    * After excessive posting, a warning will be issued by MedHelp
    * Continuing to post regarding the negative result / no risk situation will result in a 3 day suspension
    * Continuing to post upon your return will result in a permanent ban.

[mike_no]

The problem is with the copy-paste tendency, people posting around that a PCR is highly prone to false positive are not giving you the wrong information, indeed they correct however, the complete thing is untold. I said this before that every positive PCR is confirmed with another PCR. This information is not available on the internet and that's how one concludes that a problem with a PCR test is false positive, I have taken my time to speak to at least 12 best testing labs / companies to understand how they deal with the false positives and that's how I'm telling you that high false positive rates for a PCR is an outdated information.

[mike_no]

LOL! Every time I post about a PCR, Teak will have this standard message "PCR-RNA tests are not stand alone tests and have to be used in conjunction with an antibody test.

PCR-DNA are not approved diagnostic tests for HIV." - I love you man ;) Hope you are doing well now.

[mike_no]

No, specifically in your case, you don't need any more testing, you were never at any risk, you had protected sex. You are fine, just move on.

[scaredsoul06]

THanks Mike
Just visting ENT specialist to see anything wrong
i have pain the head and stiff neck

TIA

And liz i wont be posting anymore

thanks all for your help
and pray god i am safe