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Oral HIV Test at Whitman Walker

I had an Oraquick Advance Oral HIV test at Whitman Walker Clinic in DC last spring (2006).  I have since heard that the DC clinic has stopped using the oral test and now only uses blood (as of 1/1/07, I think).  Does anyone know the reason for this?  My oral test was 4.5 months after a potential exposure in a high risk situation, and it was negative.  I don't have any health problems at all so no reason why my window period should exceed the 3 month standard.

Now that I am worrying about this all over again, I looked up info on the test and read that the tester is supposed to swab all the way around the gums to collect the oral fluid... I don't remember doing that.  I was really stressed so I might just not recall. So now I'm worried maybe my test was done incorrectly and results aren't valid.

Questions are these

Does anyone know the reason behind the DC Whitman Walker Clinic discontinuing oral hiv testing?  Could this mean my negative test was inaccurate?

Do you think there's any real possibility a test administrator at such a prestigious place would NOT make sure the tester followed procedure?

Thanks for any insight.
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Avatar universal
Does it matter why they stopped using it? Oral Tests are used throughout the country and you tested negative. So you have two options, 1. Take your negative test to the bank or 2. Go get tested again to ease your mind. People who post on this forum 99.9% of the time only do so because they are worried, as I assume you are. Also, 99% of those people are waiting to be tested and have had recent exposures. You're lucky enough to be well out the period and can easily go in and get tested any day you want and don't have to live in fear until that day comes.

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Avatar universal
Other posters may know more, but I think that some oral tests were giving a high proportion of false positives (not false negatives) a few years ago. I suspect your negative is pretty believable.
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