Testing

Any idea about where we can get tested for rapid test and elisa in the gulf country

[sampatrick]

hai, where is your place Dubai?? or other place??

[Marun]

dubai

[karlmarx]

i think the American Hspital in Dubai does the test as well as the Medical Univercity of Ajman, but i am not sure. if you know where to get the home kit in Dubai keep us posted.

[Marun]

I got a home test kit delivered from  a site and the results were negative. But dunno if its reliable. They claim they are WHo approved and claim to be 99.9% accurate. The test was carried out in the 12th week post exposure.

[karlmarx]

12 weeks you should be fine. but you have to make sure that the kit is approved. what was your risk you probably dont need testing like most of us here?

[mumbaqi]

On what site did you purchase your test kit? I also want to purchase one and I am residing in abu dhabi.

Thanks.

[aak001]

what was you risk ? are you sure yuo need testing ?

[Marun]

hivkit.co.uk

[karlmarx]

i also had the same rapid test as the one in this web site (hivkit.co.uk ) more than 17 weeks past exposure is it relaible? help please?

[Teak]

I don't see where that test is approved in the UK. The only place that I have found is China.

[Teak]

I didn't see an approval for the gulf regions.

[karlmarx]

so its bullsh*t then? is that what  you mean?

[Teak]

Not really sure. I just didn't find any place that is was approved other than China. As touchy as the UK and the US is about testing I doubt seriously that it is approved. Getting a rapid test approved in the UK was like pulling teeth. I can't see them giving an approval for a home test kit.

[karlmarx]

so would you trust the Chinees?

[Teak]

Stick to the tests that ARE approved in your country.

[karlmarx]

thank you Teak

[karlmarx]

Hi Teak Dr Edward W Hook says that i am OK i am not sure that my question was clear enogh ?

[Teak]

You are right he didn't check to see if it was approved which it is not. There are no rapid tests that you can purchase that will give you your test results at home.

[karlmarx]

Hi Teak how about this one Teak ? is it better than the previous one? http://www.hivline.eu

[Teak]

Not approved.

[karlmarx]

Teak i am very sorry that i am bothering you here, given my risk do you think i should test again?

[Teak]

Go to a reliable testing center. Don't be getting test kits that unapproved off the internet.

[karlmarx]

Hi Teak,

Dr Edward W Hook answered my question with you are and the test is relaible. can you please have a look at his answer and give your feed back?  

[Teak]

The only place the test is approved and used is in Singapore. There are no tests taken at home that will give you the results that is approved. If you live in Singapore then the test is approved other than that it is not approved. Contact your health ministry and see if the test is approved in your area. Just because you can buy it on the Internet doesn't mean it's approved.

[karlmarx]

thank you Teak for your response just one more question if possible is the www.homeaccess.com test kit aprived?

[karlmarx]

Teak i am an expat working in the gulf the moment i ask them they will kick me out of the country.

[Teak]

The Home Access is an FDA only approved home collection kit in the US. You can see if it is cleared in your country by going to there website. If you use it, it will be tested in the US and it's a very reliable test.

[karlmarx]

i have the kit right in front of me and if its approved by the FDA then it should be approved here in the gulf.  

Teak man what is the defrence between HIV 1 &  HIV 2

[Teak]

You don't have to worry about HIV2 unless you have had sex with someone from southwestern Africa. There are two types of HIV. HIV1 and HIV2. HIV 1 is the more robust and most transmitted type of HIV infection even in Africa.

[karlmarx]

thank you for all the efforts and help.

[mumbaqi]

How and where did you purchase your test kit that you mentioned that was approved by the FDA. Please help and inform me.

Thansks.

[aak001]

i dont know how did he purchase it but he has given Teak this web site. www.homeaccess.com
i hope this can help you and i wish the best ;)

[Frank303]

Hivkit test is not approved in the UK. The site is sketchy about the approvals they have. If you compare this to the INSTI an approved HIV1M /HIV2 rapid test kit for clinical use who publish the details of the kits it was tested against and the seroconversion panels used I would err on the side of skepticism.
I'm not sure the CE mark, if the hivkit has one means a lot nor ISO900x. One needs to know the 'scope of supply' or 'scope of manufacture' to validate that.
Though I'm not referring to this kit a manufacturer can make consistent rubbish within a scope of manufacture and still get those accreditation marks.

It may well be as accurate as other rapid kits but without it going through the approvals process to determine clade inclusion, sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, traceability one just doesn't know.

As i understand it, though I may be wrong on this, a large part of the reason home testing is not available in the UK is influence from the GU clinics' association. They stipulate pre and post test counselling is mandatory firstly for the patient's welfare and secondly for prevention of onward transission (addressing risk behaviours etc).

[sampatrick]

hai .....i had gone through the same situation last 3 months and got tested in a private clinic in Burdubai. They had done the rapid blood test and every one is saying that this test could be relied on. From which shop you got that home kit. One more thing as i have completed 3 months i am also planning for my conclusive test.

if you want i will give you the details of the clinic. The doctor is also good. Donnt worry every thing will be ok.  

[mumbaqi]

Can you please provide the details of the clinic and the doctor. Did they informed you regarding the confidentiality of the result? As we all know the regulations here in UAE about expats.

Will wait for your response.

[Marun]

Would like know the details of the clinic in bur dubai as well.This will definitely help me in my state of mind.

[Uniquelymen]

Hi there,

Just referring to the home test kit in Singapore.  Singapore Ministry of Helath has not approved any HIV home test kit.  All HIV tests are done in clinics approved by the Ministry of Health in Singapore, whether it is anonymous or not.

[Marun]

Thanks for the information.Well if there is a way you can help me . I have a feeling of a small pea sized lymph node in my right arm pit for a few months now. I had an unprotcted encounter in March. I developed this slight pain and this swelling in May. If you can tell whether or not its an ARS symptom i will be grateful. Lately i have also some rashes on my arms and my back. Some kind of folliculitis on my face. But all this has developed now in June or July. If you can say if this is also a part of ARS i will be grateful. Other than this i had no other symptom of ARS. Also if you know about the test kit, please tell me if the kit i bought over the net uses genuine method to find out the results. I understand that it is not approved by the health authorities, but when i mailed them back about the approvals and asking them the reliability they were quite sure about the results and the methodology. If you can share some iformation it will be helpful.

[aak001]

Its always better to test in reputable hospital useing the ELISA test becuase it gives you an acurate result that you can trust. Personally i thought of buying an online kit to test but my doctor told me that kits that are not approved are not relaiable and they give false +ve many times so why go throgh that emotional pain.

[Uniquelymen]

Hi Marun,

For the start, I think it's best for ww to have their test done in a medical clinic after the window period, regardless of testing methods.  This will help to elimate some fears and doubts of the accuracy of the test.  And also to receive proper counselling.

As for symptoms, they are not a good indication of HIV infection.

[Marun]

Would like to know the details of the clinic you went to in Dxb for testing. Help me on this as im getting really paranoid with this issue. I Now have a few rashes on my face which i have now begun to feel is because of ARS and also some thrush in my mouth as my tongue looks whitish.

[Teak]

No symptoms of HIV come on this late.