testing question

[sam112]

can somebody tell me if the rna viral load tests done after  5 weeks is conclusive if negative. Please dont guess.

[Joe C]

The RNA test should not be used for diagnostic purposes. Depending who you listen to, the most conservative conclusive would be a standard antibody test at 3 months.

[Joe C]

None of this applies to you because you had no risk in the first place.

[mike_no]

I second what Joe told ya
also an RNA PCR at the 5th week is an indicator that he/she doesn't have HIV !

[sam112]

what i have learned is that it is the most conclusive because viral load goes very high after the infection. viral load tests can detect this infection speacialy if done after 28 days however it has potential to detect much earlier also.

The reason for not using it as diagnostic is that its potential to give false positive and its a very expensive test.

[mike_no]

Sam,

Try going here, myself and Scared_25 have tried to get some information about the same, I'm sure it'll help you

Mike

[mike_no]

Sorry,forgot to post the link

Here's it - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/HIVSupport/messages/2048.html

[sam112]

thanks for the link.I got your point, but once infected body itself cannot keep the virus to undetectable level, its still in thousands. and RNA viral load can detect it. Mostly it can detect anything above 400 copies/ml or somethng like that

[sam112]

this graph is more informative

http://www.stdweb.com/figure166.gif

[mike_no]

Absolutely, it is but that's not for you !

You Never Had A Risk, as simple as that