3/4 month negative

[gu65]

i received a negative result in clinic around almost 4 months post exposure. i just cant wrap my head around how the cdc considers a 3 month result conclusive with 3% of people still not producing antibodies.  if there are 50,000 infections a year that misses quite a large number of people.  

everything i read by the cdc just has them hedging their bets. they never actually say 3 month is conclusive and no further testing is warranted.

does anyone actually have a link or something to cdc information that would relax some worry wells?

[latchu_ek]

Teak i am in same page as you, even the one i pasted above says :
An additional HIV test should be offered to all persons at 3 months (12 weeks) to definitively exclude HIV infection.

[Teak]

There are no test marketed or sold to give a conclusive negative test earlier than 3 months post exposure.

UK Fourth Generation  Testing
http://www.bhiva.org/documents/Guidelines/Testing/GlinesHIVTest08.pdf
Post testing
Page 11
The need for a repeat HIV test if still within the window period after a specific exposure should be discussed. Although fourth generation tests shorten the time from exposure to seroconversion a repeat test at three months is still recommended to definitively exclude HIV infection.

[latchu_ek]

Patients attending for HIV testing who identify a specific risk occurring more that 4 weeks previously, should not be made to wait 3 months (12 weeks) before HIV testing. They should be offered a 4th generation laboratory HIV test and advised that a negative result at 4 weeks post exposure is very reassuring/highly likely to exclude HIV infection. An additional HIV test should be offered to all persons at 3 months (12 weeks) to definitively exclude HIV infection. Patients at lower risk may opt to wait until 3 months to avoid the need for HIV testing twice.

http://www.bashh.org/documents/1838

British Association for Sexual Health and HIV - BASHH

[Teak]

http://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/Resources/pmtct-care/docs/TM/Module_6TM.pdf
Page 11
#4
  In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results

[gu65]

i know but im really just interested to see where the cdc comes right out and says it.

[Teak]

You don't have HIV, you have a conclusive negative test had you had an exposure.