qualitative immunoassay

hello im a 26 yr old male, i had unprotected sex with a woman and tested negative 3 weeks after my initial contact. i had a test again and it came out negative on my 10th week after the contact. i know that you have shown figures of the 6 - 8 weeks window period and i was relieved and willing to put this all behind me but when i read my results it says ''method of testing: qualitative immunoassay"

my question is, is qualitative immunoassay the same with elisa? if not then can i rely on this method's accuracy and sensitivity ?

i really hope you can help me on this. thanks

[Teak]

No it's a PCR-RNA test and needs to be followed up with an antibody test. 3 months post exposure is when you can obtain your conclusive test result.

[stalkers]

during my 10 week window period, i have experienced a few symptoms i'm not sure if hiv related. i think i have a normal immune system. i never had chemo or took medications that can suppress my immune system. i had lbm that would heal in a week then reoccur again the following week. i also had colds that lasted more than 2 weeks along with cough and sore throat then disappear. i also experienced headaches that would come and go in a week but the weirdest is when i feel perfectly ok, i sometimes shiver. it does'nt matter if it's a warm day or a cold one. but during my window period i never experienced a fever and enlarged,palpable,painful lymph nodes. i also never had any rashes. by the way, all these symptoms did'nt occur at the same time but occured in the whole 10 weeks.

is this how the ARS works?

and since my result came back "non - reactive" but using qualitative immunoassay in a 10 week window period, what are the chances that the odds are in my favor?

any comments will be helpful

[Teak]

No that is not how ARS works had you had ARS. You'll know for a fact when you retest.

[stalkers]

thanks man. appreciate it. but will a qualitative immunoassay test be enough if i take 3 months after initial contact?

[Teak]

NO. RNA tests are supplemental tests used in conjunction with antibody tests.

[stalkers]

no wonder i can get my result in 30 minutes to an hour. i heard elisa takes 2 weeks before one can get his/her results. if what you say is true, then why do testing centers here (philippines) use qualitative immunoassay as a method of screening. why not use it for confirmation? is this method approved or allowed by WHO or any international certifying bodies?

[stalkers]

from what i heard and read, it usually takes 2 days to 2 weeks. really not a good position to be in. specially the waiting period

[stalkers]

one last question man before i leave, since a qualitative immunoassay test is useless even after 3 months, then i guess i'll just take whatever advise u can give me. do you think with all those symptoms i mentioned earlier i could have acquired hiv? your personal opinion is fine with me.
  thanks man more power

[tampuhin]

i had also tested for HIV using qualitative immunassay and accoriding to an expert infectious disease doctor form US it is highly accurate and reliable. pls do some research. anyway i'm 18 yrs old male.

[Teak]

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