help

[jim899557]

Dear Dr,

I am hoping that you could help me.

I have had determine duo test by inverness medical (www.determinetest.com) several times, well over the 28 day mark. i have also had lab duo test at 93 (ish) day, as well as another determine test and several (about 5) INSTI test along the way. all negative. i believe determine test are what GUM clinics are using as one clinic i went to used it.

I have read that negative duo test post 28 days is conclusive. Does this cover the determine test? It seems to have good results.

Also, are the INSTI test and DUO test as reliable as duo lab test?

I was worried about false negatives. Can i be assured that with all the tests I have had, I am 100% negative?

I am worried that p24 may have been below detectable level. Am i wrong in saying this in regard to my tests an the time periods that the tests had been taken.

Finally, i am worried that i read somewhere about 6month test. Is this unnecessary? Would p24 appear even if it took someone longer to produce antibodies? If that is the case, the p24 would remain in blood for longer and so should be detectable with a duo test at my time periods? Correct?

Thanks doc. I am incredibly anxious and need advice.

[Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia, MD, MRCGP, PhD]

Hello,
Thank you very much for your post.
Symptoms are irrelvant and not a reliable tool to determine if someone is having acute sero-conversion as symptoms are non-specific.  You have not mentioned the kind of risk and assessing the risk is much more important.
Anyhow, you had had several negative results and I can conlcude without any doubt that you are HIV negative.  No need to worry, no need to have any more tests.
The p24 antigen is already detectable after 14 days, reaching high levels at 4 weeks and remaining detectable for up to six months.  Therefore there is no doubt about the reliability and conclusivity of your tests.
Best wishes,
Dr José

[jim899557]

Thank you for your comment.

I was just wondering: is the determine duo test a good and reliable test? If UK GUM clinics are using the test, then I imagine that it must be.

Second, is the INSTI test good too?

Finally, would there any possibility that at the intervals I had the tests, the p24 or anti bodies may not be identifiable? Or in EVERY person would p24 have appeared at the relevant times when I was tested?

Cheers.

[jim899557]

I meant to add, i write to you because i got worried as i felt that my lymph node under my left arm pit was a little sensitvie and when i feel it it is a little discomforting (not painful however) and has been for a while. is this unrelated? i read swoleen lymph nodes is a sign of ARS and i got worried.