Oraquick Oral Swab test

[nerviouskid]

I just want to know how many of you who took the Oral swab test had been told to do the test in different ways.  Did you guys swab your upper gums and lower gums just once?

Yesterday, when i went to test at this clinic, she made me swab my upper gums and lower gums 5 times each.  That's 10 times in total.   Is this normal way to do it as well?  I'm just curious.

Also, any chance of the test not being conducted properly?  

Thanks.

[Teak]

Why are you still testing? Do you have a mental illness? You already have a conclusive result, which is negative.  

[Teak]

Seek professional mental help.

[nerviouskid]

I don't know...i'm a little nervous about different ways these tests are being conducted.

And on top of that, i don't know if I have any immune disease...i'm just really scared.

[peekawho]

Hi!  My cold turned into bilateral pneumonia, and I had a bad asthma attack on top of that.  
Hasn't been my week.  

[monkeyflower]

I agree with Teak; make an appointment with a therapist, and ask your doctor about meds. All this testing is absurd.

[nerviouskid]

oh Gosh no...I don't want HIV and I don't want to suffer from any mental illness...As it is I hate taking medications and I don't believe in taking meds.  I'm so sad :-(

I seriously hope I am okay!

[quintonmed]

I did an Oral swab as well.  I tested april 9 from an exposure jan 7.  It was negative.  I am worried about how I swabbed too.  I just did my upper and lower gums once each I think.  I read on the Orasure website you need to put it in oyur cheeks for 2 mnutes and then swab your gums.  I emailed them asking if that mattered and if orasure detects HIV-2.  I did my test in NYC

[nerviouskid]

They told you to put it in your cheeks for 2 minutes???  

I don't understand...The very first time I went to test they only made me swab upper and lower gums once on both sides, which seemed right but all the other places I went to test they did it all differently and I just don't get it if I did it right, or was I even told to do it correctly.  I've never heard anything like 2 min. in cheeks.  Now I am starting to wonder even more!!

And I also was concerned about HIV-2, but was told that they look for HIV 1 and 2 with OraQuick Rapid Advance 1/2.   I think any test picks that up at 3months and beyond testing. So that's some relief.  

[regularjoey]

forget it man!
there are internal controls in the test
if you did it wrong, they would know it

[nerviouskid]

what do you mean by internal controls in the test?  I'm curious...The fact that I'm hearing other ways test has been conducted on other people (even done it differently for myself), is rather confusing.

Such test should be conducted in one way don't you think?  please help us clear this and make us understand.

[regularjoey]

controls means controls
there is a control band for an unrelated antibody, which means the test is done correctly
there is a band for HIV antibody, which you didn't get
so you don't have it
don't try to play doctor

[regularjoey]

are you listening?
there are CONTROLS that ensure that the test was taken correctly
don't assume that people that made and approved the test are not as brilliant as you are

[nerviouskid]

I wonder if I swabbed my gums properly.  I'm not sure if I pushed the stick all the way up to m gumline....I don't know if that matters right?

[nerviouskid]

that's true.  There is a thought behind this creation.  Just wondering about all this though, afterall it is 99.6% reliable.  I wish it was 100%.

[regularjoey]

nothing on this Earth is ever 100%
uncertainty is part of life, my friend