Aa
risk assesment
Hello doctor,
I had a condom brake with a sexworker. I didnt worry until i started feeling symptoms 3 weeks after. I was to scared to get tested. Finally i got the courage and tested 8 weeks post expusure with a duo test and the result was negative. The test was ROCHE HIV COMBI.
1. Can i be 100% sure i did not contract hiv?
2. Is this test reliable?
3. Does this test include testing for all types and sub types of hiv?
4. Should i test again?
I had a condom brake with a sexworker. I didnt worry until i started feeling symptoms 3 weeks after. I was to scared to get tested. Finally i got the courage and tested 8 weeks post expusure with a duo test and the result was negative. The test was ROCHE HIV COMBI.
1. Can i be 100% sure i did not contract hiv?
2. Is this test reliable?
3. Does this test include testing for all types and sub types of hiv?
4. Should i test again?
Thabk you very much doctor. This is great information that explains why the DUO is 100% reliable at 4 weeks!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
4 weeks. I have never heard of the secondary window period you describe, and it is inconsistent with the science behind the test. It is the HIV antibody itself that clears p24 from the blood; i.e. p24 cannot go away unless there measurable antibody is present.
That should wind up this thread. Take care.
That should wind up this thread. Take care.
Doctor, i have kept reading all your posts and really trying to learn about hiv so that i can help other that are worried in the community forum. Your posts are a great source of information. I just have one question if you could help me understand.
In a recent post you said "it is impossible to have HIV with both p24 and antibody remaining negative." I am wondering how much time has to elapse for this to be true? Is it impposible after 4 weeks or after 8 weeks (talking about the duo test).
I also found some site that stated there is a second window period of about 2 days for the duo test when p24 has become undetectable, and their are not enough antibodies to be detected. Is this true.
Thank you very much. I will keep reading your posts so that i can help out people in need!!!
In a recent post you said "it is impossible to have HIV with both p24 and antibody remaining negative." I am wondering how much time has to elapse for this to be true? Is it impposible after 4 weeks or after 8 weeks (talking about the duo test).
I also found some site that stated there is a second window period of about 2 days for the duo test when p24 has become undetectable, and their are not enough antibodies to be detected. Is this true.
Thank you very much. I will keep reading your posts so that i can help out people in need!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If you would of searched this forum you would already know the answer you seek... Anyway I have seen Dr Handsfield repost this link many many times in the last few weeks.. Read it and try to relax he explains in detail read the entire thread if needed....
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/-A-Question-on-Testing/show/1347755
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/-A-Question-on-Testing/show/1347755
Would you like to comment doctor?
Hello doctor HHH, i want to state something that i know would help everyone with their anxiety. Yo may comment if you like.
I think the community forum is misleading everyone and filling them with anxiety.
You and doctor Hook advice that 8 weeks is enough for an antibody test and 4 weeks for a DUO test. People read this and get confidence about their test and start believing the results. Then they see contradicting information in the community forum where Teak and others state that only 3 months is conclusive for any test and they affirm that there isnt any test licensed or marketed to give conclusive results before 3 months. They eveb say that the UK guidelines and the guidelines from the CDC and the FDA clearly state that 3 months is the window perios and that tests are only conclusive after this time.
I know you and Doctor Hook are world class experts and probably have the most experience in HIV, and testing since the epidemic started.
It is very unclear for many people as to why there is this contradiction and even why the guidelines (included UK) dont say about the 8 and 4 week being conclusive for each test. I know many of us including me would like to understand your point of view about this.
I really appreciate your help and have a huge admaration for you.
Thank you
I think the community forum is misleading everyone and filling them with anxiety.
You and doctor Hook advice that 8 weeks is enough for an antibody test and 4 weeks for a DUO test. People read this and get confidence about their test and start believing the results. Then they see contradicting information in the community forum where Teak and others state that only 3 months is conclusive for any test and they affirm that there isnt any test licensed or marketed to give conclusive results before 3 months. They eveb say that the UK guidelines and the guidelines from the CDC and the FDA clearly state that 3 months is the window perios and that tests are only conclusive after this time.
I know you and Doctor Hook are world class experts and probably have the most experience in HIV, and testing since the epidemic started.
It is very unclear for many people as to why there is this contradiction and even why the guidelines (included UK) dont say about the 8 and 4 week being conclusive for each test. I know many of us including me would like to understand your point of view about this.
I really appreciate your help and have a huge admaration for you.
Thank you
You have been of great help doctor. I congratulate you for such a wondefull job and hope you can continuie to help others in the future!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I do not believe there are such atypical HIV strains in Ecuador or anywhere in South America. You can safely have sex with your girlfriend. And yes, if this were me, I would be 100% confident I was not infected and would continue unprotected sex with my wife, with no fears about her health and safety.
Thank you very much doctor. I really appreciate your kind help.
I have one last question and promise it will be may last, and i will forget about this whole issue.
1. I tried contacting the health authorities but it was impossible. I libe in Ecuador (south america). Do you think there is any chance that thier could be a rare strain of HIV in my country?
2. Can i have unprotected sex with my girlfriend without worrying about infecting her?
If you were in my situatuion, would you be 100% confident you are HIV negative after a negative result 7 weeks post exposure with a roche hiv combi test?
You have a great person to me and i will be very thankfull. I hope you can help me with this las answers. Good bye!!
I have one last question and promise it will be may last, and i will forget about this whole issue.
1. I tried contacting the health authorities but it was impossible. I libe in Ecuador (south america). Do you think there is any chance that thier could be a rare strain of HIV in my country?
2. Can i have unprotected sex with my girlfriend without worrying about infecting her?
If you were in my situatuion, would you be 100% confident you are HIV negative after a negative result 7 weeks post exposure with a roche hiv combi test?
You have a great person to me and i will be very thankfull. I hope you can help me with this las answers. Good bye!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That index value is comletely negative. The HIV strains that might not be detected with the current combo/duo tests are extremely rare and pretty much limited to the areas where HIV evolved in nature, i.e. tropical Africa.
If you have continuing doubts, you'll have to check with the national or provincial health authorities in your country. You should not do any more testing unelss recommended by them. But I'm quite sure there is no chance you have HIV.
If you have continuing doubts, you'll have to check with the national or provincial health authorities in your country. You should not do any more testing unelss recommended by them. But I'm quite sure there is no chance you have HIV.
Also, the index value of the test i had was 0.15.
Do you think if i was infected with a rare strain of HIV the index value would have been higher? Or undetermined?
Do you think if i was infected with a rare strain of HIV the index value would have been higher? Or undetermined?
Thank you very much doctor, i really appreciate your words.
I want to clear up something. I do not live in a industrialized country so i am a little nerveous about the strains of hiv that can not be detected with the test i had (HIV COMBI ROCHE). How can i be sure i did not contract a rare strain. The CSW i had sex with was black.
1. What test should i seek for? How are the strains diagnosed if conventional tests dont detect them?
Thank you once again.
I want to clear up something. I do not live in a industrialized country so i am a little nerveous about the strains of hiv that can not be detected with the test i had (HIV COMBI ROCHE). How can i be sure i did not contract a rare strain. The CSW i had sex with was black.
1. What test should i seek for? How are the strains diagnosed if conventional tests dont detect them?
Thank you once again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'm glad to hear you got up the nerve to be tested. All is well; you don't have HIV.
Most sex workers don't have HIV, and even if your partner were infected, and even without a condom, the chance of transmission during any single vaginal sex exposure is very low, average around 1 chance in 2,000. But no matter how high the risk, your test result proves you were not infected. To your specific questions:
1) Yes, 100%
2) The combo tests (also called DUO tests) for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen, including the Roche COMBI test, are highly reliable and detect all HIV infections when done 4 weeks or more after the last possible exposure.
3) All HIV types that exist in industrialized countries are detected by the test.
4) No further testing is necessary.
Here is another thread that discussed the duo/combo tests in more detail. Start reading with the follow-up comment dated Sept. 19: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Need-your-help/show/1345664
Regards-- HHH, MD
Most sex workers don't have HIV, and even if your partner were infected, and even without a condom, the chance of transmission during any single vaginal sex exposure is very low, average around 1 chance in 2,000. But no matter how high the risk, your test result proves you were not infected. To your specific questions:
1) Yes, 100%
2) The combo tests (also called DUO tests) for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen, including the Roche COMBI test, are highly reliable and detect all HIV infections when done 4 weeks or more after the last possible exposure.
3) All HIV types that exist in industrialized countries are detected by the test.
4) No further testing is necessary.
Here is another thread that discussed the duo/combo tests in more detail. Start reading with the follow-up comment dated Sept. 19: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Need-your-help/show/1345664
Regards-- HHH, MD
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