Mike,
One last question. You said ARS can't show up after 2-4 weeks. How can this be if people can theoretically seroconvert right up until 3 months. Don't mean to be aggressive with my questioning - just trying to understand. Is it not possible someone could have ARS at 10 weeks and show antibodies at 12 weeks?
Anybody comment on my last question regarding testing?
Thx.
Not at all - sorry if anyone took it that way or was offended. It is derived from the fact that my roots are scottish! We have highland clans that relate to our heritage.
Clasman,
I think,you should ease up, you had your 6 weeks negative and it's a very strong indicator, by the way ARS can't show up so late, it occurs within 2 - 4 weeks after the infection, so whatever is your problem, it's not ARS.
I apologize for the confusion, it's meant to be 'proceeding' i.e following..
The doc here in the forum says 6 week's conclusive and you should at least believe the doctor.
Restest at the 8th week for your peace of mind and move on
Really going out of my mind now since I've just discovered that I have angular cheilitis as opposed to a cold sore. Apparently this is a strong indicator of ARS. Can anyone comment?
What kind of name is that?
Mike,
Forgive me - one last question. You said 'detectable amount of anti bodies will always be detected after two weeks preceding the seroconversion'. When you say preceding did you really mean 'before' or was this meant to say proceeding i.e. 'after'. Otherwise how could there be abtibodies present if you haven't seroconverted?
You should also know that; practically, some one being in the last stage of cancer would be the only one who would seroconvert late
and when I say one would seroconvert within 14 to 22 days,14 being the earliest and 22 the average, the test at 6 weeks would definitely be reliable
You have to believe in your result and what the expert says, avoid reading too much about HIV and keep your self engaged in some activity.
Mike,
Really appreciate the response. I appreciate I need to lighten up - was on my way to doing that until my latest symptoms popped up! If I understand you correctly though you believe that only rare cases seroconvert beyond six weeks - correct?
Let me ask about the test - if I was having ARS late at five weeks would this have been picked up in my 6 week test? Is the testing technology that advanced? I'm concerned that UK GUM clinics are behind the times.
Blackmane, not sure I understood your question about the name?
I think he's referring to the fact that a "clansman" is a term generally used to refer to a member of the KKK.
Mike,
One other thing that puzzles me is when Dr HHH states that late seroconversion is almost unheard of with modern tests. Surely it's the person that determines when seroconversion happens? If it doesn't happen until week 8 after exposure how does a modern test help?
Mike,
Really appreciate you taking the time to answer me. The information I'm seeing is quite reassuring if it wasn't for the symptoms I've had. Incidentally yesterday I've come down with a heavy cold and today a major coldsore. I'm now at 52 days since exposure. Every little sign freaks me out!!
Anyway you mentions that most people seroconvert 14-22 days. I believe the average is 22 days? However for this to be an average there must be a maximum number of days for symptoms to show. My worry is that my immune system has reacted slower and that my symptoms starting at 34 days could have been ARS. If that were the case then antibodies might not have been sufficient to show positive on a 42 day test? Or am I missing something.
Any thoughts on the symptoms I've had?
I think you should read the earlier post properly, I said ' detectable amount of anti bodies will always be detected after two weeks preceding the seroconversion'
So what I meant was, Normally one would seroconvert in 14 - 22 days and by the the 4 th week detectable amount of antibodies would always be present
So your 6 weeks negative is very reassuring.
Hope this helps