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4th gen window period
Hi all... I has a potential exposure to hiv about 6 weeks ago (protected insertive anal but with lots of drinking I cannot be sure if the condom was in tact) wit another man whose status is unknown and have been worried for quite some time. I have had 4 hiv ag/ab lab tests done (7, 19, 33, 41 days after the potential exposure) all non-reactive. My Dr. (Primary care) assures me my tests are conclusive and I need to stop testing and move on with my life. I have also posted on the Dr. Tan forum where they told me my hiv tests are conclusive. I called the Illinois Dept. of Health & Human Services and the Massachusetts Aids Action Committee where they also told me my tests are conclusive and no further testing was needed. I also read that the UK recently updated their testing protocol and no longer recommend the 3 month test... they recommend 4 week ag/ab and follow up test at 8 weeks only if the Dr. Believes the patient was at a high risk for infection. (I'm assuming then that if the Dr. Does not believe the patient was high risk then the 4th week test would be conclusive).
I still freak out about the window period and false negatives. I have been reading the forum almost obsessively and see that for the most part you guys have traditionally stuck with the 3 month rule. (Although I have recently been seeing a lot of 4-6 week advice on the forum). So my questions are, how reliable are my tests (conclusive? ) should I stop testing & move on with my life? & finally, does anyone know why the expert forum has stopped taking questions? Wish I could hear from Dr. HHH or Hook. Does anyone know if the expert forum will start up again anytime soon? Thanks!
I still freak out about the window period and false negatives. I have been reading the forum almost obsessively and see that for the most part you guys have traditionally stuck with the 3 month rule. (Although I have recently been seeing a lot of 4-6 week advice on the forum). So my questions are, how reliable are my tests (conclusive? ) should I stop testing & move on with my life? & finally, does anyone know why the expert forum has stopped taking questions? Wish I could hear from Dr. HHH or Hook. Does anyone know if the expert forum will start up again anytime soon? Thanks!
I know, thank you. I just didn´t want to start new thread just because of this because I´ve already have two in two days. Yes in Czech republic they say that 3rd gen is conclusive after 8 weeks if you don´t take antibiotics or corticoids. If yes, 3 months testing is neccessary. Thank you. I know she should know.
Need to start your own thread my friend.
But answering your question.
With 3rd Gen test the guidelines ate still 12 week's. But the expert Doctors on this forum always said you can rely on 8 week's. They were not wrong about 4th Gen test's (dispite some people on this forum contradicting them).
As far as I know, antigen and antibodies test is 4th Gen.
The nurse who tested you should asbpart of her job know what test she is giving you, otherwise she shouldn't be doing it.
But answering your question.
With 3rd Gen test the guidelines ate still 12 week's. But the expert Doctors on this forum always said you can rely on 8 week's. They were not wrong about 4th Gen test's (dispite some people on this forum contradicting them).
As far as I know, antigen and antibodies test is 4th Gen.
The nurse who tested you should asbpart of her job know what test she is giving you, otherwise she shouldn't be doing it.
Hi may I ask you? I had ELISA test after 8 weeks and 11.5 weeks, I don´t know if it is 3rd generation. After 18 weeks I had CMIA test - antigen p24 and antibodies HIV 1,2. Is this 4th generation? The nurse did not know exactly. Do I understand well that if you have ag/ab it is alwas 4th gen? And if not, is 3rd gen test conclusive after 8 weeks? I live in Czech Republic and they say that if you don´t take antibiotics or corticoids that it is conclusive after 8 weeks even if you had exposure with hiv positive - doesn´t matter. Thank you
The guidelines concerning the 4th Gen test are: test at 4 week's for a conclusive result.
Only test again at 8 week's, if you have had a particularly high risk and is accompanied by severe symptoms.
12 week's concerning 4 Gen test is old news.
The expert Doctor's on this forum have been saying this for years.
Take care.
Only test again at 8 week's, if you have had a particularly high risk and is accompanied by severe symptoms.
12 week's concerning 4 Gen test is old news.
The expert Doctor's on this forum have been saying this for years.
Take care.
Actually it was the CDC that changed their guidelines to reflect the fourth gen tests.
Thank you for your reply Shaun & Sharkboy! I appreciate it... one question about the new CDC guidelines you wrote about sharkboy... do they say anything about the 4th Gen being conclusive earlier that the 3 months or just that people should test sooner using the 4th Gen test and then again at 3 months?
Nursegirl can i get your advice... thanks!
Nursegirl can i get your advice... thanks!
You haven't been seeing the 3 month from me. If you take a 4 week ag-ab (4th gen test), and it's negative then you're good.
The only reason to repeat at a later time is if the doctor things the test doesn't make sense. For example, you have all signs of HIV like other unusual lab tests, yet for some freak reason it came back negative.
Be well
The only reason to repeat at a later time is if the doctor things the test doesn't make sense. For example, you have all signs of HIV like other unusual lab tests, yet for some freak reason it came back negative.
Be well
In June 2014 the CDC updated their guidelines concerning the the lab tested 4th GEN test. This recommended taking this particular test sooner than the older guidelines (I.e 12 weeks).
Reading older posts on this forum (pre-June 2014), represents the older guidelines.
The Doctors on the expert forum always believed in the earlier time for testing with 4th GEN, but until the CDC updated their guidelines, they were facing a lone battle.
It is a shame they have not been contributing, since the new guidelines.
We can only hope for their return.
Reading older posts on this forum (pre-June 2014), represents the older guidelines.
The Doctors on the expert forum always believed in the earlier time for testing with 4th GEN, but until the CDC updated their guidelines, they were facing a lone battle.
It is a shame they have not been contributing, since the new guidelines.
We can only hope for their return.
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