Rapit testing

[moe1016]

1.How unsual that you know of  for someone to go on to test postive after receiving a negative after 8wks and one at 12wks and 2 days. 2.How accurate is the oral rapid test and the rapid blood stick which I took both oral swab at 8wks and rapid advance at 12wks and 2 days both negative. My wife is having symptoms as I am  related to ars and she know nothing about my encounter low blood pressure and she always took medicine for high blood presure hurting and swollen needs and leg hurting Jaw feel like dislocated.  Even if my symptoms is coming from anixety her is not because she knows nothing of my encounter. 3. Do i Need to take a 6mo test. Please answer.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The rapid tests perform just as well as the oral tests and the traditional blood test.  that is their performance is equivalent.  I have never seen someone convert their blood tests after negative tess at 12 weeks.

As far as your "ARS" symptoms are concerned, I can tell you to forget it.  If you are thinking that you go HIV and ARS and then spread it to your wife and now she too has ARS, forget it.  the timing does not work.  You do not have HIV and do not need further testing.

You have apparently missed our repeated statements that the symptoms of the ARS are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection.  When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes. In contrast, over a given year, there is almost no one who has not had a viral illness, night sweats or both (sometimes on multiple occasions).  In addition, it is also important to realize that many persons who acquire HIV do not experience the ARS.  For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time.  You need to find another explanation for your and your wife's symptoms.  EWH

[moe1016]

What other virus could cause me to feel like this hurting joints and the other symptoms I spoke about.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

None are a perfect fit.  To address this problem you need to work with your doctor.  While I have not had the benefit of examining you, it would not surpise me if he/she felt that part, if not all of your problems are due to anxiety.

No further questions please.  EWH