Policy Change On Window Period

[Monty2000]

A big thank you to you Dr. as well as the regular posters for your continued dedication to this site and those who seek advice from  it.

My experience is rather unextraordinary in that it invovled two separate encounters with sex workers in Asia (protected vaginal, unprotected oral). Immediately after the last encounter I started to freak about HIV and it consumed me for nearly 6 weeks.

I might add at this point that I'm writing from Australia and that I just recently received a 40 day negative test result (HIV-1 Antigen / HIV-1 & 2 Antibody).

The reason I am posting is that, despite my negative test result I just couldn't let go off the thought that I was still within the official window period and probably not yet in the clear.

The pathology report explicitly stated that a follow up test should be conducted if this test was conducted within 6 weeks of exposure. My Dr. (General Practitioner) suggested follow up testing at 3 months basically because the guidelines said so and that he "likes to follow guidelines", but otherwise he seemed to think my result was conclusive.

Calling around to various Sexual Health Centres (Government Funded) I was advised that 6 weeks is the "new window period" and that National HIV Testing Policy will change to reflect this once some of the smaller testing labs upgrade their procedures. The nurse I talked to also said that if your pathology report says "6 weeks" then you can rely on a 6 week result as being definitive.

My question Dr. is does host variability (i.e. production of antibodies) play a big part in HIV testing generally or has technology and testing procedures evolved far enough that it really isn't an issue for the bulk of those being tested? I'm just looking for closure I guess.

Thank you once again.  

[brambles26]

sorry Dt HHH

OK,  thats fine.

I think you just told me what i needed to hear anyway.

So 11 weeks is conclusive and i am fine and should stop worrying ?

Now I have heard it you yourself, I am much more at ease.

Thankyou for all your help, it is really appreciated, even though understanably you have had enough.

[WorriedUS]

Don't worry, we understand your anxiety.  But your test at 11 weeks is indeed definitive!  The US governmental organization conservatively says 3 months is the time at which you should test for HIV, and they are one of the most conservative.  The body.com even says 3 months.  Doc H here is among a bevy of professionals who say 6-8 weeks gives up to 99% accurate results, but you're WELL beyond that!  you're SO ok!

so yes, your 11 weeks is right ON the MONEY!!  you're all good!

-WorriedUS

[brambles26]

Thanks Worried...

Its just been playing on my mind lately, im glad i can finally now get on with life...

All i was concerned about was if by chance it was a first generation test then would 11 weeks be conclusive.

The Doc and yourself seem to be sure it is conclusive no matter what the generation at 11 weeks (78 days) so what more can I ask for.

I just have to  keep telling myself i am ok now...

Thank you all for putting up with me, I will be making sure i never put my self in this predicament again, as there is no way i want to spend any more time like i have been feeling.. ie:  wondering how long before i die.....


YAY

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

brambles, your repeated, compulsive, anxiety-driven questions really aren't helpful to this forum.  It's time to stop.  If you want to know what test a particular SHC uses, call and ask; don't expect people on this forum to know what you can learn yourself with a 2 minute phone call.  And as I have said innumerable times, test "generation" DOESN'T MATTER!!!  Even the oldest HIV tests were always positive within 11 weeks.

HHH, MD

[skerdstraght68]

if he just told you that the old tests were always positive by 11 weeks wouldnt you think that your test you take now falls under that?  Common....

[brambles26]

hey monty...

im from australia too..

if you see my previous posts, i got tested at 11 weeks by a GP.
Do you know much about tests used in Australia, do they all use the same generation antibody ELISA.

I think i am ok, but just want to be sure.  Im from a medium size city in NSW, not the capitals and wondered if the tests used here would be same as those used in say SYdney or Melbourne.

Do you know much about this or Aus policy

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

First, my general comment is that you can rely with great confidence on public health policies in Australia in general, and on the policies and expertise of Australia's sexual health centres in particular.  Collectively, the Australia SHCs are the best STD clinics in the world.  That's not to say that every clinic is a good as the next, but on average they are much better than in my country.  The Melbourne and Sydney SHCs are among the world's premier STD clinics, and Adelaide probably comes close.  (I don't have personal knowledge about others.)

Second, there is no hard and fast, absolute window period.  And yes, there is individual variation from one person to another.  One person might seroconvert to HIV at, say, 15 days after infection and another might do so in 20 days.  However, it is hair-splitting to look for a difference of 2 days, and there is no statistically different reliability in the results of a negative test at 40 compared with 42 days (6 weeks).

Since your exposure was near zero risk, you can be 100% confident in your negative 40 day test.  Given the combination of the virtually zero risk of exposure plus the exceedingly low risk of missing a positive result at 40 days, the chance you have HIV is literally one in many millions, i.e. much less than the chance you'll win the next national lottery.  So just forget about it.  But if you remain nervous, it's fine with me if you get retested yet again.

HHH, MD