Elisa and western blot

[floydian]

I just found this information online
http://www.hivguidelines.org/admin/files/other/hot%20topics/HIVtestingchart.pdf
so 3rd gen Elisa turns positive months before western blot? Is this true?
Best Regards,

[worried826]

Who cares? You dont get a western blot anyway unless you get a positive ELISA. WB is used for confirmation after positive ELISA.

Stop digging up stuff on the net.

[worried826]

You had proteced sex anyway, theres a reson they call it "protected sex".

[ECN44120]

Floydian I will answer just becouse its a good question, but you really need to stop searching the web or you will never move on

Our body produces antibodies for antigens (something not natural in our body), Elisa 1rst and 2nd generation test looked for the antibodies produces for this antigens but just for one kind of them they look for the immunoglobulin M (IgM) 3rd and 4th generation tests look for two of them they look for the immunoglobulin M and G (IgM) the immunoglobulin M is not produced more consistanly over early infiction but G does, that is the reason that the 3rd and 4 th generation test have a higher analytical sensitivity and have shorter window period, now what is the Western Blot,

The western blot It is based on using an electrophoretic technique to separate HIV antigens derived from a lysate of virus grown in culture. This technique denatures the viral components, imparts a negative charge to the antigens, and separates them primarily on the basis of their molecular weights. The separation of antigens in the technique allows for the identification of specific antibodies to each of the viral antigens in a subsequent set of steps similar to the ELISA methodology. in englisg that means that it looks for each individual type on antibodie produced by our body it looks for gp160, gp120, p66, p55, p51, gp41, p31, p24, p17, and p15  The "gp" designation refers to glycoproteins; "p" indicates proteins, so the window period could be a little bit longer since it looks for diferent types of antibodies and the CDC guidelines, which require reactivity to at least 2 of the following antigens: p24, gp41, gp120/160 for a positive classification.

So know you can realize that Elisa test just look for the type of antibodies, but the western blot look for each specifical antibodie so it may take a few weeks more but if the person is trully 100% positive, a western blot on the same day of a positive elisa it would be at least indeterminate .

Here you can learn how hiv test works

http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=kb-02-02-01#S6.1X

[sorrytoaskthishere]

I had a western blot which tested for

sgp120
gp41
p31
p24
p17
sgp105
gp36

Does this mean I could have tested positive for the other proteins you mention?

i.e. why are they not all the same?

[ECN44120]

If the test is aproveed in Canada and the UK, then its OK, and if it looked for IgG and IgM then it is a 3rd generation test. anyway your 7 week test is not conclusive but very very encouraging you will need a 3 month test for a conclusive result if you had a real risk.

[alienshadow]

dont waste time and effort here

[ECN44120]

If you have a western blot I assume you had a previous positive test, anyway the difference in the bands name doesnt matter is does NOT means you could have tested positive for the other bands, and the difference could be becouse of the manufater of test, the place, ect. but it isnt important.

[sorrytoaskthishere]

Why don't all tests look for all proteins?  surely that is fullproof

I am concerned you say "place" as my exposure was abroad and I am convinced the tests are made for UK "types"

[ECN44120]

becouse there are a lot of proteins and glycoproteins, I said place becouse of the lenguage and scientific terms used in different countries but all the western blots made around the world works in the same way, since your test was negative then you are negative, forget about this and dont try to find the 5th leg of the cat, just move on

[worried826]

Stop reading into it. A negative WB means no hiv. Move on.

[sorrytoaskthishere]

I truely hope you are right but in my book there can be too many coincidences

unprotected sex
symptoms
blood counts
partner experiencing same

something is going on - there are other people going through the same and i need to find out before things get worse

[worried826]

If everyone that had unprotected sex caught HIV the world population would be screwed. Ive had unprotected sex with so many girls that I cant count them on all my fingers and toes together.

Symptoms are meanignless, especially since most infected people get zero symptoms.

Your partner having the same symptoms could be any of plenty of the contagious viruses or bacterias out there.

Once again if you have a negative western blot you do not have HIV. Move On!

[worried826]

Man i just read your thread, you have tested negative out to 6 months, you are by far HIV negative.

[ECN44120]

I didnt thought your case was so bad, men you need to look for help, right now, BUT NOT for HIV since you dont have it, for OCD-HIV fobia, if you cant realize the wonderfull news that you remain hiv negative, having tested negative for HIV out to 6 months, then a therapist or shirnk may help you a lot, It doesnt matter what symptoms you have you dont have hiv I hope you wont become one of those folks that even after they have several negative test outside the window period still believes that they are hiv positive and even some off them buy hiv meds in online famacys,

Hope it helps, just move on

[Frank303]

If a WB is negative that means no HIV. Period. If it was anythinge esle than negative, even a faint band then they would tell the patient to come back if it's indeterminate or that they have HIV