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Combo test accuracy at 3 months
Why do most of the HIV specialists and the related medical fraternity consider the HIV AG/AB (Combo test - CMIA method) to be conclusive at 3 months post exposure?
1) At 3 months, the Antigen might not be seen in the Combo test but it could take for the antibodies to show up much later than 3 months post exposure, right? In this case, the HIV Combo test (CMIA) at 3 months post exposure would be not conclusive? or am I missing something here? Is there a logical medical explanation to this?
2) CMIA is considered to be 4th gen test, correct?
1) At 3 months, the Antigen might not be seen in the Combo test but it could take for the antibodies to show up much later than 3 months post exposure, right? In this case, the HIV Combo test (CMIA) at 3 months post exposure would be not conclusive? or am I missing something here? Is there a logical medical explanation to this?
2) CMIA is considered to be 4th gen test, correct?
Your test results are conclusive. As per Howard. No matter how many what if's you try to come up with.
As for the few rare cases of people who don't show antibodies out 6 months, these would be people who have little to no immune system. Examples, would be a transplant patient on anti-rejection drugs, or advanced cancer patients on chemotherapy. Even most of these cases still will show antibodies by 3 months. I'm betting you are NOT among any of these groups.
As for the few rare cases of people who don't show antibodies out 6 months, these would be people who have little to no immune system. Examples, would be a transplant patient on anti-rejection drugs, or advanced cancer patients on chemotherapy. Even most of these cases still will show antibodies by 3 months. I'm betting you are NOT among any of these groups.
Thanks, Howard.
1) When they say AG/AB combo test, does the AG refer to the p24 antigen by default or are there any other antigens the test tests for?
2) You say 4 weeks post exposure in your response. So, is there a possibility of the p24 antigen and/or the antibodies developing or showing up on the combo test 'after' 3 months post exposure? or the 3 months Combo test (AG/AB) via CMIA is considered conclusive with no further testing required? I ask this because some say, in rare cases, it might take 6 months for the antibodies to develop or show on the tests.
1) When they say AG/AB combo test, does the AG refer to the p24 antigen by default or are there any other antigens the test tests for?
2) You say 4 weeks post exposure in your response. So, is there a possibility of the p24 antigen and/or the antibodies developing or showing up on the combo test 'after' 3 months post exposure? or the 3 months Combo test (AG/AB) via CMIA is considered conclusive with no further testing required? I ask this because some say, in rare cases, it might take 6 months for the antibodies to develop or show on the tests.
"Why do most of the HIV specialists and the related medical fraternity consider the HIV AG/AB (Combo test - CMIA method) to be conclusive at 3 months post exposure?"
Because it is true. You misunderstand the test. The two components, p24 antigen and antibody, are not independent of one another. It is the antibody that clears p24 out of the blood. That is, when p24 goes away, it is beause antibody has appeared. Therefore, everybody with HIV more than 4 weeks in duration has either p24 antigen or HIV antibody in the blood, and the test is definitive any more than 4 weeks after exposure. There are no exceptions.
Because it is true. You misunderstand the test. The two components, p24 antigen and antibody, are not independent of one another. It is the antibody that clears p24 out of the blood. That is, when p24 goes away, it is beause antibody has appeared. Therefore, everybody with HIV more than 4 weeks in duration has either p24 antigen or HIV antibody in the blood, and the test is definitive any more than 4 weeks after exposure. There are no exceptions.
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