I’m in a big trouble

[Help20003]

Dear Doctor

I need your help, as I faced a big problem today,

I went to do HIV test today ( rapid one) and because I was in rush the doctor in the lab. Just did the test for me so quick and he gave me the kit when the C line showed dark red, and he told me it is negative I put the kit in pocket and then  I took the test kit to my car, the kit was wet because of the blood and to dry it I put it under the sun in the care ( it is very sunny in my country) after 1 hour I looked at the kit again and it did show a faint line in the T . this freaked me out then I came back to same lab and I requested him to repeat the test again  ( luckily he still kept my blood sample) using another kit ( new one and  it came negative and I was still worried then I’ve requested him to do anther Elisa test using the same blood and he did it and it came as 0.143

My dear doctor my last exposure was 5 months ago and If I got HIV infected why the 2nd Rapid test and Elisa showed Negative, please help as the lab doctor took another blood sample to do PCR and HIV COMBO, I’m very worried about the result as it should come back in 1 week time.  

[Help20003]

Thanks Doctor for your help, I learned my lesson which is I will never take the HIV testing cartridge home with me and read it after 1 hour, I hope I wont test positive in the future, I need your prays

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

All negative.  You don't have HIV and there was never any possibiltly you did.

That's all for this thread.

[postnasalzulu]

I took my HIV insti home aswel Dr. I know I did for visual reassurance. I threw it away after a few days though for the same reason as you chap!

[Help20003]

Dear Doctor,

I got my result just now as follow:

HIV Quantitative Assay
Method : Real Time PCR, Taq man assay
Sensitivity : 80 IU/ml
Linearity: 10-10*6 IU/ml

Result: Negative, target not detected

HIV( I &II) COMBO AB& AG: Negative

HIV by ELISA : Negative : 0,143

1- do you this is a good indication that I don't have HIV or maybe because my last exposure which was 5 months and half ago now it is the time for the infection to start?

2- I did another HIV Rapid test today in the same lab while he was delivering my results, the Rapid showed only one strong C line in the first hour but but after 2 hours it started to show another faint line in the T line, so should I get tested again as this is might be an early stage of the infection ( please clarify this to me)

Thanks a lot doctor.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the HIV forum.

There is a reason that the rapid tests need to be interpreted at the appropriate time, i.e. 10-20 minutes depending on the test.  Everybody's test probably would be positive if read an hour or more after starting.  (I've never heard of patients taking their test kits after rapid testing was complete.  Why did you do it??)

Your tests are definitely and absolutely negagtive.  Had you been my patient, I would not have done the more expensive tests (the PCR and combo tests); your doctor is being highly conservative and probably did them only to reassure you, not because he expects them to be positive.  You can be sure you don't have HIV and your PCR and combo results will be negative.

So mellow out; all is well.  Feel free to return to post the results of the PCR and combo, but I won't have anything more to say until then.

Regards--  HHH, MD