Please ease my mind!!..

Okay!!.....I had my negative antibody tests at 6 weejs and after 3 months,,,,so am in the clear??....i had sexual encounter witha prostitute(vaginal)...so am in the clear??
by the way ...the tests were rapid tri-dot!!...
have heard that they are outdated and hence cant be trusted!...
is it true???
should i go for DNA PCR??
or are the results accurate and conclusive??

[as1979]

The ELISA test was the first screening test widely used for HIV because of its high sensitivity. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA test is 99.99% .
The difference between ELISA and tri-dot test is in its sensitivity and specificity. The The sensitivity and specificity of the TRI-DOT test is 99.48% .
In a study conducted over 23,609 sera, seven (0.03%) gave discordant results. Six of these were reactive only by the fourth-generation assay and were p24 antigen-positive by VIDAS DUO, Western blot and qualitative RT-PCR tests. The remaining discordant serum was considered to be false-positive by the TRI-DOT assay, as it was negative by repeat ELISA and Western blot tests.
English Translation: There is a very very remote chance of false positive in tri-dot test, but chances of a false negative is almost non existent. In the study that I mentioned above, tri dot test found 7 HIV + put of 23,609, whereas ELISA test (along with other confirmatory test) proved that out of 7, only 6 were HIV+. There was one false positive.

You had two rapid tri-dot tests and both proved that you were negative. Your tests are most definitely CONCLUSIVE and you don't need to take any more tests, not even ELISA test.

[zonak]

3 months,ie, 13 weeks!!

[as1979]

rapid tri-dot test  is reliable and conclusive 13 weeks post exposure. You don't need a DNA PCR.  If at all you are still bothered, (and I believe you have no reasons to be bothered and no reasons to take any more tests), take an antibody test. They are supposed to be Gold Standard as far as HIV testing is concerned.
DNA PCR will be way too expensive and is certainly not warranted in your case.

[zonak]

arent tridot tests antibody tests??

[as1979]

I'm sorry. I meant ELISA blood test.

[LIZZIE LOU]

your test was RELIABLE and CONCLUSIVE...PROVING that you do NOT have hiv.

[zonak]

then what is ELISA test recommended by as1979??..gold standard?
Just curious!

[as1979]

The ELISA test was the first screening test widely used for HIV because of its high sensitivity. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA test is 99.99% .
The difference between ELISA and tri-dot test is in its sensitivity and specificity. The The sensitivity and specificity of the TRI-DOT test is 99.48% .
In a study conducted over 23,609 sera, seven (0.03%) gave discordant results. Six of these were reactive only by the fourth-generation assay and were p24 antigen-positive by VIDAS DUO, Western blot and qualitative RT-PCR tests. The remaining discordant serum was considered to be false-positive by the TRI-DOT assay, as it was negative by repeat ELISA and Western blot tests.
English Translation: There is a very very remote chance of false positive in tri-dot test, but chances of a false negative is almost non existent. In the study that I mentioned above, tri dot test found 7 HIV + put of 23,609, whereas ELISA test (along with other confirmatory test) proved that out of 7, only 6 were HIV+. There was one false positive.

You had two rapid tri-dot tests and both proved that you were negative. Your tests are most definitely CONCLUSIVE and you don't need to take any more tests, not even ELISA test.

[zonak]

Thankyou very much!!

[zonak]

Thankyou very much!!