Oraquick Advance

[Clintech_01]

Sort of a question actually. Using the Oraquick Advance HIV 1/2 kit the other day I tested myself. This is not the first time that I've used this kit, in fact I work as a tech in a hospital where we routinely employ this test as a means of rapid HIV detection. I happen to know from the manufacturer that were so few false-positive results from this test that they were all but unmentioned in their research data, as they put it, the incidents of false-positives were so nominal it also did not warrant disclosure. That being said when I tested myself the other day I ruled it the test negative, as there was not appearance of reactivity. I should mention the test employed whole blood rather than peripheral blood or saliva (a relatively standard practice for the facility I work in). While we don't generally keep the tests past an hour or so, I kept mine and today almost 49 hours later I noticed that the strip indicates faint reactivity, which interestingly enough is relatively common for this type of test strip. The reactive indicator is rarely as bold in appearances as the positive control. So what I'm wondering is whether this is a false-positive or not, and if anyone has seen one or knows what it looks like. I've been in the medical field long enough to know that my chances of acquiring HIV are relatively low considering my lifestyle, which is to say the least very conservative. I'm making an appointment to have the serum test run, but in the interim I was wondering if anyone had seen what a false-positive looks like for this test strip type?


This discussion is related to OraQuick Advance Swab 15 Minute Results.

[Teak]

The tests MUST be read between 20 and 40 minutes.

[LIZZIE LOU]

that is exactly "why" test results are to be read at a given time.

consider yourself negative :)