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Special for Dr H. H. H.
Hello Dr Handsfield , you lost me now.
You said for years that a test is conclusive after 8 weeks , here is one example: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/HIV-test-after-8-weeks/show/1783631
" Your question is one that allows an accurate reply based only on the title you chose, "HIV test after 8 weeks". Assuming that test was negative, you can be 100% certain you did not catch HIV. It doesn't matter what sort of exposure you had or any symptoms you may have experienced " .
I even trusted my test after 8 weeks, relying on their information.
Now I see a response from you today where you recommends a 90-day trial, if the person has no ars:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/ARS-Symptoms-post-exposure/show/1946609
Now I'm lost, because you changed? All of us who rely on a test of eight weeks, which you claimed to be conclusive, we are lost?
You said for years that a test is conclusive after 8 weeks , here is one example: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/HIV-test-after-8-weeks/show/1783631
" Your question is one that allows an accurate reply based only on the title you chose, "HIV test after 8 weeks". Assuming that test was negative, you can be 100% certain you did not catch HIV. It doesn't matter what sort of exposure you had or any symptoms you may have experienced " .
I even trusted my test after 8 weeks, relying on their information.
Now I see a response from you today where you recommends a 90-day trial, if the person has no ars:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/ARS-Symptoms-post-exposure/show/1946609
Now I'm lost, because you changed? All of us who rely on a test of eight weeks, which you claimed to be conclusive, we are lost?
Thanks for the quick reply.
Dr HHH, So, nowadays an antibody test at 8 weeks is definitive?
Can I trust in my test 8 weeks, regardless of the risk and symptoms?
Dr HHH, So, nowadays an antibody test at 8 weeks is definitive?
Can I trust in my test 8 weeks, regardless of the risk and symptoms?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
I'm happy to address this, but your concerns have no basis in fact. First, in the more recent thread, I did not advise the user to wait until 90 days for definitive testing. Second, a careful read of both the discussions whose links you provide, plus the other discussion linked in both of them (MedHelp post no. 1704700), makes is clear there is no conflict or inconsistency in my advice about test interpretation.
Perhaps you have inappropriately interpreted the opening sentence of my follow-up comment. "Gold standard" has quotation marks precisely because I don't consider it valid. If you read all my replies with care, you'll understand I have said nothing different than before. The official advice from most agencies and test manufacturers remains that people concerned about having acquired HIV should have an antibody test at least 3 months after the last possible exposure, even though the available data support earlier testing as definitive and reliable.
HHH, MD
I'm happy to address this, but your concerns have no basis in fact. First, in the more recent thread, I did not advise the user to wait until 90 days for definitive testing. Second, a careful read of both the discussions whose links you provide, plus the other discussion linked in both of them (MedHelp post no. 1704700), makes is clear there is no conflict or inconsistency in my advice about test interpretation.
Perhaps you have inappropriately interpreted the opening sentence of my follow-up comment. "Gold standard" has quotation marks precisely because I don't consider it valid. If you read all my replies with care, you'll understand I have said nothing different than before. The official advice from most agencies and test manufacturers remains that people concerned about having acquired HIV should have an antibody test at least 3 months after the last possible exposure, even though the available data support earlier testing as definitive and reliable.
HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You "forgot" to say the most important thing of all??? Most of the conversation above has been unnecessary! All the comments about 8 weeks don't apply to you. You had a duo test, the one that is 100% reliable at 4 weeks and beyond. Your negative result proves you don't have HIV.
This thread is definitely over. No more comments, please.
This thread is definitely over. No more comments, please.
Dr HHH i forgot to mention that my test at 8 weeks was modular system roche Ag p24/ Ab , this changes anything?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
*Sigh*
I cannot give you any different advice than I already have. Can I guarantee you don't have HIV? No. I also cannot guarantee you won't be hit by a meteorite, but I would bet a lot of money against it. Feel free to be tested again if it will help you get beyond these concerns -- but as I said, if I were in your situation, I would not do it personally.
That's my last comment. Do your best to move on.
I cannot give you any different advice than I already have. Can I guarantee you don't have HIV? No. I also cannot guarantee you won't be hit by a meteorite, but I would bet a lot of money against it. Feel free to be tested again if it will help you get beyond these concerns -- but as I said, if I were in your situation, I would not do it personally.
That's my last comment. Do your best to move on.
Dr, I promise not to ask any more questions. That's the last I want to move on.
I can totally rely on my test at 8 weeks? Even if I have symptoms?
I can have complete confidence that I was not infected, regardless of symptoms?
I can totally rely on my test at 8 weeks? Even if I have symptoms?
I can have complete confidence that I was not infected, regardless of symptoms?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This comment suggests you have ignored the thread where this is discussed, which I described above: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700
We have never made an absolute claim about test peformance. There is no precise research on this, and all we have ever done is make recommendations based on our interpretation of the available data. I have also repeated (hundreds of threads, maybe over 1,000) stated that if I had concerns about an exposure and had negative HIV antibody test results at 6-8 weeks, I would resume (or continue) unprotected sex with my wife without worry of infecting her.
That will end this thread. I won't have any more comments or advice.
We have never made an absolute claim about test peformance. There is no precise research on this, and all we have ever done is make recommendations based on our interpretation of the available data. I have also repeated (hundreds of threads, maybe over 1,000) stated that if I had concerns about an exposure and had negative HIV antibody test results at 6-8 weeks, I would resume (or continue) unprotected sex with my wife without worry of infecting her.
That will end this thread. I won't have any more comments or advice.
Sorry for questioning you stop me, the more you have always claimed that the tests were conclusive after 8 weeks, now I'm lost. Trusted the answers of you had unprotected intercourse with my wife and now?
Dr, the testing is or not conclusive after 8 weeks?
You're making me confused.
You're making me confused.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That is my and Dr. Hook's view, but not all experts agree.
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