NEGATIVE! Thanks once again for all your advice/help, so happy just to get on with my life, 12 weeks of really bad anxiety and constant panicking over nothing! And a big plus is my girlfriend is still talking to me, although I suspect I might never be on another boys holiday/drink until I black out or do anything that my mates dare me to... Horror show! Cheers again!!
Check that out! http://www.iusti.org/regions/europe/pdf/2014/2014IUSTIguidelineonHIVtesting.pdf
Looks like your NHS doctor is not up-to-date. 12 weeks is for Ab only tests
It will be Negative buddy! Not a doubt in my mind!
After all your reassuring words I decided to go back for the 12 week test as the NHS doctor at the gum clinic had advised as it was still playing on my mind and I've had sore throats/colds a lot recently which I no are probably nothing to do with it but as you can imagine my mind is running wild!
Once again the doctor was less than reassuring, said 26 days was a good indicator but by no way considered conclusive but this one should be...
I'll let you know the outcome in the next week now that my unrelenting hypochondria has reared it's head...
Cheers
Totally agree with rocket27rocket.
No way to testing at 12 weeks, test at 28 days + and that's yiu done buddy.
Your result will not change :)
The duo test is great as it looks for two parameters, take the test to be sure but then move on, you are not going to change global HIV recommendations by being the first:)
Best Wishes
James
Really appreciate your comments, it's really helped ease my fears... I did actually wonder if my sore was a product of my worry and anxiety. I agree I am suffering badly as a result of both guilt and anxiety, having had to explain what had happened to my partner and the continuing impact that's had on our relationship...
In your opinions if I were to test again this/next week do you think I'd be advised to retest at 12 weeks?
Thanks once again
I had a Duo test earlier this year at 24 days and the NHS nurse told me it would be conclusive. Test was negative. Then like you I started looking on internet worse thing). Returned to the clinic at 82 days. Nurse gave me a comforting talk and another duo (negative). Don't know like you the staff are not trained to say 28 days for Duo. Would save a lot of stress. Your suffering from guilt and anixety (like I was). Phone up your clinic and and ask to talk to a clinician. I am sure you will be fine.
Test results overrule both exposure history and symptoms, as long as testing is done sufficiently long after exposure. For the DUO test, 26 days undoubtedly is close to 100% reliable, although I doubt there are data on any difference between 26 days and the official 28 days for conclusive results.
Googling HIV symptoms is absolutely the most misleading way to judge whether or not you have HIV. All symptoms of acute HIV are far more common in many other mostly minor medical conditions. And HIV doesn't cause cough or on and off sore throat anyway.
Since you're worried, feel free to have another test. It will be negative.