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STDs (Expert Forum)
ACCURATE TEST?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
ACCURATE TEST?
by 200780, Jun 05, 2007 12:00AM
PLEASE HELP ME GET OVER THIS! I HAD 2 UNPROTECTED ENCOUNTERS WITH A WOMEN I HAVE KNOWN SOCIALLY IN MARCH. AFTER HAVING SEX TWICE I STARTED WORRYING IF HIV OR HERPES WAS AN ISSUE SO I DECIDED TO GET TESTED. I HAVE WAITED AS LONG AS POSSIBLE TO GO FOR THE TESTS. I HAD A SPECIFIC TYPE HERPES TEST DONE (11 WEEKS 4 DAYS FROM 1ST ENCOUNTER, AND 10 WEEKS EXACTLY FROM 2ND ENCOUNTER) THE TEST WERE NEGATIVE I ALSO HAVE HAD 2 PCR TESTS DONE (FIRST 31 &20 DAYS FROM ENCOUNTER, 2ND TEST 45 &34 DAYS FROM 2ND ENCOUNTER). THOSE WERE ALSO NEGATIVE I ALSO HAD A ANTIBODY HIV TEST DONE AT THE 10 WEEK MARK AS WELL AND IT WAS NEGATIVE.. THUS FAR ALL SIGNS POINT TO ME BEING OK AND NEGATIVE. ALSO I AHVE NOT BEEN SICK OR SHOWN ANY SYMPTOMS OF HAVING HERPES. I GUESS MY QUESTIONS HERE ARE:
1. IS THE NEG HIV @ 10 WEEKS ACCURATE OR DO I NEED ANOTHER ONE DONE?
2. IS THE NEGATIVE HERPES TEST @ 10 WEEKS ACCURATE OR SHOULD I WAIT ANOTHER 2 WEEKS AND RETEST AT 12 WEEKS. THE WOMEN I SPOKE TO AT ADVANCE TESTING SAID THAT SHE DOESNT SEE WHY I WOULD NEED ANOTHER TEST ONLY FOR PEACE OF MIND, BUT I HAVE READ THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN TEST NEG AT 10 WEEKS AND SHOW POSITIVE AT 12 WEEKS.
PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS I HAVE BEEN WORRIED SICK SINCE MARCH ABOUT THIS AND WOULD LOVE TO PUT IT BEHIND ME AND CARRY ON MY LIFE. THANK YOU!!
1. IS THE NEG HIV @ 10 WEEKS ACCURATE OR DO I NEED ANOTHER ONE DONE?
2. IS THE NEGATIVE HERPES TEST @ 10 WEEKS ACCURATE OR SHOULD I WAIT ANOTHER 2 WEEKS AND RETEST AT 12 WEEKS. THE WOMEN I SPOKE TO AT ADVANCE TESTING SAID THAT SHE DOESNT SEE WHY I WOULD NEED ANOTHER TEST ONLY FOR PEACE OF MIND, BUT I HAVE READ THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN TEST NEG AT 10 WEEKS AND SHOW POSITIVE AT 12 WEEKS.
PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS I HAVE BEEN WORRIED SICK SINCE MARCH ABOUT THIS AND WOULD LOVE TO PUT IT BEHIND ME AND CARRY ON MY LIFE. THANK YOU!!
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 05, 2007 12:00AM
, Jun 05, 2007 12:00AM
You have been seriously overtested, given the exposures you describe. As you say yourself, all signs show you are negative. Further, all your questions have been asked and answered repeatedly. The very quick replies are: 1) Yes 10 week negative tests are 100% reliable. 2) You didn't need herpes testing at all. But it takes up to 3-4 months to become positive, so I cannot say you weren't infected. But the odds are greater that you'll be killed by lightning someday. (I mean that literally.)
Note that this is not a mental health counseling site, and I am not responsible to resolve your compulsions or anxieties. I won't have any responses to further 'yes but' or 'what if' questions.
HHH, MD
Note that this is not a mental health counseling site, and I am not responsible to resolve your compulsions or anxieties. I won't have any responses to further 'yes but' or 'what if' questions.
HHH, MD
Some places say 6-8 weeks is adequate. I've also read that >90% of people will seroconvert by 10 weeks?
Thanks.