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PEP-treatment influencing PCR test, but not antibody-test
At the following link * Dr. Robert Frascino writes:
"Yes, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) can indeed affect PCR test results. PEP consists of anti-HIV medications, like the three you took. These medications, when effective, drive the HIV viral to undetectable levels. The PCR test is essentially an HIV viral load test. What your doctor is referring to is the possibility that if you were HIV positive and took PEP, by day 33 your HIV viral load could be undetectable, because your HIV infection would be essentially treated. On the other hand, PEP does not affect HIV antibody tests, like the rapid tests or ELISA test."
I was just wondering - why does it NOT effect the normal antibody test? Do you guys know that?
* http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/SafeSex/Archive/TransmissionSexual/Q165017.html
"Yes, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) can indeed affect PCR test results. PEP consists of anti-HIV medications, like the three you took. These medications, when effective, drive the HIV viral to undetectable levels. The PCR test is essentially an HIV viral load test. What your doctor is referring to is the possibility that if you were HIV positive and took PEP, by day 33 your HIV viral load could be undetectable, because your HIV infection would be essentially treated. On the other hand, PEP does not affect HIV antibody tests, like the rapid tests or ELISA test."
I was just wondering - why does it NOT effect the normal antibody test? Do you guys know that?
* http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/SafeSex/Archive/TransmissionSexual/Q165017.html
Babies who are born to HIV positive mom may have the antibodies for up to 18 months but they may still not have HIV. So maybe that would be your case. if the PEP get rids of the virus then the antibodies are only memory cells that keep showing up on the antibody tests but you don't have the virus like babies.
NONETHELESS i WISH YOU THE BEST
NONETHELESS i WISH YOU THE BEST
on 4/27 I had vaginal and received oral intercourse with a sex worker and the condom broke for about 3minutes during vaginal.I changed the condom but nonetheless I freaked.so i went to the doctor the very next day.I took pep but only for 2 days because that's all they gave me.I took a pcr test on 6/17.it came back negative and a hiv rapid antibody test 6/28 andit too came back negative.could the pep affected the pcr test and rapid oral test?
Yeah, it's the lack of clear answers and hard data, which makes HIV such a frustrating topic sometimes.
You should not worry and expect nothing but a negative result.
You should not worry and expect nothing but a negative result.
In another response he elaborates a bit:
"PEP does not delay the immunologic response to HIV infection, i.e. the production of anti-HIV antibodies. It can, as I mentioned above, decrease HIV viral load. That, however, is not an immunologic response, but rather a direct measure of viral replication."
I think the best idea would be to turn off my computer and try to think on something else than HIV for a change... But it's just jo damn hard, when you're as scared as I am. But - with all these "conflicting" opinions out there (some say oral sex is NO risk, others that it is a risk; some say PEP DOES delay seroconversion, others that it doesn't - and so on) I've come to the conclusion that I will trust whatever my own doctor (at the infectious disease department at my hospital) tells me at my 12-week test.
I pray my test will be negative.
"PEP does not delay the immunologic response to HIV infection, i.e. the production of anti-HIV antibodies. It can, as I mentioned above, decrease HIV viral load. That, however, is not an immunologic response, but rather a direct measure of viral replication."
I think the best idea would be to turn off my computer and try to think on something else than HIV for a change... But it's just jo damn hard, when you're as scared as I am. But - with all these "conflicting" opinions out there (some say oral sex is NO risk, others that it is a risk; some say PEP DOES delay seroconversion, others that it doesn't - and so on) I've come to the conclusion that I will trust whatever my own doctor (at the infectious disease department at my hospital) tells me at my 12-week test.
I pray my test will be negative.
Yeah, I've never seen any data on this.
But there must be a reason for a recommendation to test 3 months post-PEP.
By the way, don't forget that Dr.Bob took PEP himself, but he still got infected and had horrible ARS. So maybe he's just saying this out of personal experience.
But there must be a reason for a recommendation to test 3 months post-PEP.
By the way, don't forget that Dr.Bob took PEP himself, but he still got infected and had horrible ARS. So maybe he's just saying this out of personal experience.
It's a difficult subject (as everything else on this matter) it would seem... On http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Meds/Archive/PEP/Q162183.html the doctor says the following:
"There is not evidence that I am aware of that PEP delays symptoms of seroconversion."
But others say the opposite...
"There is not evidence that I am aware of that PEP delays symptoms of seroconversion."
But others say the opposite...
I agree with Teak here, Dr.Bob might be wrong on that one.
PEP almost definitely delays seroconversion.
The PCR test of course is quite worthless if one is taking PEP.
PEP almost definitely delays seroconversion.
The PCR test of course is quite worthless if one is taking PEP.
So, what you're saying is that...
- if a PEP-treatment is successfull by destroying the virus all together the antibody test will be negative
...and...
- if a PEP-treatment only represses the virus from developing in the first 4 weeks, the body will still produce antibodies - which will show up in an antibody test
My question is then - and this is in general and not minded on my specific situation: can you then trust a negative antibody test done at 6 weeks EVEN THOUGH you've been on PEP-treatment? I ask this because I've read a response by a doctor who said that "an 8 week negative is conclusive. The 12 week period is for special circumstances for example when people have been on PEP".
- and that doesn't really match with the idea that PEP doesn't influence the antibody test...?! :-s
Thanks for your input! Highly appreciated!
- if a PEP-treatment is successfull by destroying the virus all together the antibody test will be negative
...and...
- if a PEP-treatment only represses the virus from developing in the first 4 weeks, the body will still produce antibodies - which will show up in an antibody test
My question is then - and this is in general and not minded on my specific situation: can you then trust a negative antibody test done at 6 weeks EVEN THOUGH you've been on PEP-treatment? I ask this because I've read a response by a doctor who said that "an 8 week negative is conclusive. The 12 week period is for special circumstances for example when people have been on PEP".
- and that doesn't really match with the idea that PEP doesn't influence the antibody test...?! :-s
Thanks for your input! Highly appreciated!
COMMUNITY LEADER
The HIV antibody tests gauge the body's immune response to the infection, even if the virus reaches the undetectable levels that doesn't mean that it has been completely eradicated from the body, it's just not present in the blood stream and lies dormant in the body. Hence the body continues to fight against the alien intrusion and produces antibodies which can be only detected by an antibody test.
In your case, PEP was not required, you never really required to test and you can't get HIV from the incidence you've mentioned.
Mike
In your case, PEP was not required, you never really required to test and you can't get HIV from the incidence you've mentioned.
Mike
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