Is Oraquick, by itself, a reliable test????

[farfromperfect]

I have came across many places that say that antibody tests like Oraquick should be used in combination with a comprehensive risk factor and medical analysis to say whether or not the person is indeed hiv negative.  To me that says, if you test negative and all signs and symptoms are gone you are in the clear.  If you test negative and still have symptoms, you gotta test out further.  
Is the Oraquick test that is just a single finger pick and a result 20 minutes later good enough to use by itself?  That is all I have ever had.  Is this an accurate test?  

[verystressed07]

I'll pray for you though. I'm sure you'll test negative at 6 months. Another reason I chose not to worry is because even though it was worth knowing I was clear, that's been 3 months out of my life wasted and I'm not about to waste 3 more months. I can't believe some even tell you to test up to a year!

[verystressed07]

In case you haven't read my response to your post the other day, at 5 weeks and 5 days, I had a standard blood test at Labcorp and at 12 weeks and 6 days, my husband took an Oraquick test (oral fluids) at a free HIV clinic. Both came back negative. Now and then I still worry but over all I'm moving on because I've tortured myself long enough on this and hardly have been able to enjoy my time with my daughter or this pregnancy. It's standard procedure for pregnant women to get tested for HIV when they're in labor, and at this point I'm expecting a negative test. The reason I'm more confident now is because I tested negative for more common STDs and my husband only had sex with that one woman, one time, and she reassured him twice that she had no STDs and she in fact got tested for HIV, 2 weeks prior to that and was negative. All these negative tests must prove she was telling the truth about that. My OB/GYN didn't even recommend I have any further testing done when I asked him about it.

[peekawho]

Here's what Dr. H said about Oraquick.  I'm sure you read it, so I'm not sure why you're asking about it.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/HIV/messages/1145.html

[mike_no]

Nothing much !

Even you tested with the right test, 3 months conclusive at three months generation of the test don't matter.

Believe in your test, the day you start believing in your test all your symptoms will disappear,I'm talking from my experience and I know I've been stupid to be there twice.

You don't need any more testing, you need to relax and think rationally.

[bigdummy]

I keep telling people who say I have no risk the same thing. I just don't feel right and it's either a big coincidence which I'm praying to no end that it is or worst case scenario there is something wrong with me. I just want to go back to my normal life and not be consumed with this.

[Jaguar83]

Well, man. I hope my symptoms go away by your time. This **** is far too strange and coincidental for me, as well. I have not tested out to 12/13 weeks yet, only out to 8. Have you told a doctor every single one of your symptoms and have you been tested for all the usual STDs? For all else, I know this is an HIV only form, but I had the tstd panel run at 5 weeks, all negative. What should I continue to test for? I have similar symptoms to farfromperfect, with protected vag, unprotected oral both ways...

Hopin for ya, farfromperfect...

[Teak]

Quit posting in other people's threads. You are being rude.

[bigdummy]

Are you talking about in the DRs forum?

[farfromperfect]

Hey Mike whats up?  I just feel as though I havent been responsible for taking only the rapid tests.  I still have symptoms and I am going frigging crazy.  I can't test again until another 6 weeks at my home clinic, and peeks right, I wouldn't trust a home tests results, no way.  As we sit here I am looking at 4 spots on my arm that look like the ARS rash.  Could it be possible at 4 and half months I have ARS? Or is it just HIV rash in general.  I looked at the manufacturers reccomendations for testing and it says out to 6 months on Oraquick.  
As far as what I want to hear, I want to hear that I can be done with this forever and go be with my family and make love to my wife, whom I fear that I may have infected due to some strange symptoms from her.  
I just want to live again.  I feel like spit.  

Mike, you used a better method of testing than I did.  That is why you are confident.  

Question to others:  What test did you use?  Am I the only one who just used the rapid test on here?  

[mike_no]

Why are you doing this to yourself ?

What do you exactly want to hear ?

Far,

Yes, oraquick is an FDA approved test, you tested at the right time and your result's conclusive.

I know you've tried helping yourself, you did see a shrink but it didn't work out however did you consider giving it some more time,you won't get results instantly, let it buy some time.

To add to the worse you are thinking about it the day in and day out and keep posting every day about it, it's doing you no good, believe in your result, you are negative and nothing can change that.