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8 week test conclusive?
Hello Doctors,
I had a one time unprotected vaginal sex with a female CSW. Since then I have taken a HIV antibody test 8 weeks later (exactly 56 days) which came back negative.
Apologies for the long link but this is the specific test that I took:
https://www.labcorp.com/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hACzO_QCM_IwMLXyM3AyNjMycDU2dXQwN3M6B8JG55AwMCuv088nNT9SP1o8zjQ11Ngg09LY0N_N2DjQw8g439TfyM_MzMLAz0Q_QjnYGKIvEqKsiNKDfUDVQEAARgwHA!/dl2/d1/L0lJWm1LYVkhL0lCaEFDRW9BQkFqS0FBUUlLZ0FFQ0thZ0FFQUs2R0RnL1lJNXlsdyEhLzdfVUU0UzFJOTMwT0dTMjBJUzNPNE4yTjY2ODAvc2VhcmNoQnlLZXl3b3Jk/?criterion=083824&x=0&y=0
1. Is this 8 week test result conclusive evidence that I did not contract HIV?
2. I also have a fatty liver from years of drinking too much alcohol. Will my fatty liver delay HIV antibody production beyond the 8 week window period?
3. Are there ANY medical conditions that CAN delay antibody production beyond the 8 week window period?
4. If the answers to questions 2 and 3 are no, can I go on and put this behind me and not worry about HIV anymore?
I had a one time unprotected vaginal sex with a female CSW. Since then I have taken a HIV antibody test 8 weeks later (exactly 56 days) which came back negative.
Apologies for the long link but this is the specific test that I took:
https://www.labcorp.com/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hACzO_QCM_IwMLXyM3AyNjMycDU2dXQwN3M6B8JG55AwMCuv088nNT9SP1o8zjQ11Ngg09LY0N_N2DjQw8g439TfyM_MzMLAz0Q_QjnYGKIvEqKsiNKDfUDVQEAARgwHA!/dl2/d1/L0lJWm1LYVkhL0lCaEFDRW9BQkFqS0FBUUlLZ0FFQ0thZ0FFQUs2R0RnL1lJNXlsdyEhLzdfVUU0UzFJOTMwT0dTMjBJUzNPNE4yTjY2ODAvc2VhcmNoQnlLZXl3b3Jk/?criterion=083824&x=0&y=0
1. Is this 8 week test result conclusive evidence that I did not contract HIV?
2. I also have a fatty liver from years of drinking too much alcohol. Will my fatty liver delay HIV antibody production beyond the 8 week window period?
3. Are there ANY medical conditions that CAN delay antibody production beyond the 8 week window period?
4. If the answers to questions 2 and 3 are no, can I go on and put this behind me and not worry about HIV anymore?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
I haven't looked at the link you provided, which is protected by your LabCorp username and password. But I can tell you that all HIV tests approved for use in the United States, and therefore all the tests offered by LabCorp, are highly reliable. There is no need for me to know exactly whiich test you had. To your specific questions:
1) Yes, your 8 week test is conclusive. In case you are confused about common advice to test at 3 months or more after the last exposure, please see this recent thread: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700
2,3) The HIV diagnostic tests are among the most accurate and reliable blood tests ever developed, for any infection. They are designed to be unaffected by other medical conditions or drugs. The only possible exceptions are terminal illnesses, like advanced cancer, or potent cancer chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs -- and even these are theoretical only, with few if any actual reported cases of inaccurate or delayed test results.
4) You can definitely "go on and put this behind [you] and not worry about HIV anymore".
My final advice is that I hope you will get in the habit of using condoms for future sexual contacts with commercial or other non-monogamous partners. Although the risk of HIV is low for any single exposure, even if your partner had HIV, you could avoided several weeks of anxiety. Also, since you didnt' use a condom, I hope you have tested for other common STDs. If not yet done, you should be tested now for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.
I hope these comments have helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
I haven't looked at the link you provided, which is protected by your LabCorp username and password. But I can tell you that all HIV tests approved for use in the United States, and therefore all the tests offered by LabCorp, are highly reliable. There is no need for me to know exactly whiich test you had. To your specific questions:
1) Yes, your 8 week test is conclusive. In case you are confused about common advice to test at 3 months or more after the last exposure, please see this recent thread: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700
2,3) The HIV diagnostic tests are among the most accurate and reliable blood tests ever developed, for any infection. They are designed to be unaffected by other medical conditions or drugs. The only possible exceptions are terminal illnesses, like advanced cancer, or potent cancer chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs -- and even these are theoretical only, with few if any actual reported cases of inaccurate or delayed test results.
4) You can definitely "go on and put this behind [you] and not worry about HIV anymore".
My final advice is that I hope you will get in the habit of using condoms for future sexual contacts with commercial or other non-monogamous partners. Although the risk of HIV is low for any single exposure, even if your partner had HIV, you could avoided several weeks of anxiety. Also, since you didnt' use a condom, I hope you have tested for other common STDs. If not yet done, you should be tested now for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.
I hope these comments have helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
A related discussion, hello doctors was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I asked you to not ask "what if" questions, which leads to pointless speculation -- in this case about a kind of exposure you didn't have!
Given your fixation about all this, I suggest you just have another test at 12 weeks. Tthis doesn't mean I believe tehre is any chance it will be positive. It will not.
Any more of this will result in immediate deletion of the entire thread.
Given your fixation about all this, I suggest you just have another test at 12 weeks. Tthis doesn't mean I believe tehre is any chance it will be positive. It will not.
Any more of this will result in immediate deletion of the entire thread.
Sorry doctor one last question I promise. You say that 8 weeks is conclusive for HIV antibody testing. Is that regardless of the risk factors? Meaning if I had a very high risk exposure like anal sex with a gay man, would you still tell me 8 weeks is 100% conclusive? Just trying to understand if the 8 week conclusivetivity takes into account risk factors or if it's conclusive period regardless of risk factors. This will be my last question. Thank you doctor for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No medicine have any effect on HIV test reliability, escept maybe potent immunosuppressive drugs or chemotherapy. Certainly these medications have no effect.
I suggest you ignore any further "what if" questions that come to mind. Almost certainly there is no scenario you can imagine that would change my opinion or advice.
I suggest you ignore any further "what if" questions that come to mind. Almost certainly there is no scenario you can imagine that would change my opinion or advice.
Sorry Dr. Hansfield, one more follow up question.
I forgot to mention I've been taking Amlodipine for my high blood pressure and Omeprazole for stomach acid. Will these medications have an effect on my 8 week negative test result or is it still 100% conclusive?
I forgot to mention I've been taking Amlodipine for my high blood pressure and Omeprazole for stomach acid. Will these medications have an effect on my 8 week negative test result or is it still 100% conclusive?
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