Reliability of Testing - Still a Bit Concerned

After 2 and 1/2 weeks of a single,brief intercourse with a lady I know, I had an HIV test: Proviral DNA by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification methiod.  The RESULTS WERE NEGATIVE.  However, there was a disclaimer of the results that indicated that the test was not approved by the FDA and the assay was for research only.  Testing was done by LabCorp of America.  

Questions:  How reliable is this test after 2 1/2 weeks?  Should I have additional testing?    The single encounter was brief.  Here's what the company says about their test:

Proviral HIV DNA by PCR Test
The HIV Proviral DNA by PCR is the most sensitive test for detecting infection. While most healthy individuals are accustomed to waiting 3 months for a conclusive result, the HIV Proviral DNA can provide conclusive results after only 28 days.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  As we have told others repeatedly, the PCR tests for HIV are not recommended for HIV diagnosis. there are no studies which systematically evaluate the timing of when PCR tests become positive and PCR tests tend to have more false positive results than the recommended antibody tests (this is not your problem- your test was negative).

Having said that, a negative PCR test is strong evidence that you do not have HIV. the test was done by a highly experienced laboratory with a test which IS licensed by the FDA for following response to therapy. Thus it's performance for detecting HIV has been carefully studied, just not for diagnosis.  That said, most experts would say that most persons who had acquired HIV in the preceding 2 weeks would be likely to have a positive test at two week.  There are no exact percentages however.  

In considering your situation, please remember that your risk for HIV is low almost no matter what the circumstances of exposure.  Most people do not have HIV and even if your partner had HIV, your risk of getting infected from a single episode is less than 1% if you and your partner were both males and less than 1 in a thousand if your encounter was unprotected vaginal intercourse.  

My advice at this time is to get your next test with one of the recommended antibody tests and not to waste time and money on PCR testing.  I hope these comments are helpful to you. EWH

[rickp5046]

The brief encounter was unprotected intercourse.