Testing question

[Jesshelp]

Hello specialist.
I have tagged the individuals who seem to know/ or are more knowledgeable-respectively. Hopefully I can get some clear answers. I was looking at some of the posts by the administrators and it said that 97% of people will show up by 3 months. So that leaves 3%. With that said, I am a female who had sex with a male both vaginal and anal and it turned out the the condom had broken. I did a 3 months and 3 weeks test that was negative. What is my status and or what "guarantees" me that I dont have HIV, or will get it later? What makes me not among the 3%? Your kind advice will be very helpful.
-Note: there was no ejaculation both anally or vagina. The fact that my sexual activity was pretty extreme, does It mean have to test at 6 months and then a year?
-Why do people say conclusive at 3 months yet say its 97%??
Thanks !!!

[nursegirl6572]

"And that people with immunosuppression issues are the people who should test out 6 months"

You got it.  Your test results were 100% conclusive......you can finally get a good night's sleep!

[Jesshelp]

So just so I can have a clear understanding, from what you're saying there shouldnt be a reason I should worry about late seroconversion. And that people with immunosuppression issues are the people who should test out 6 months. Not trying to over-due my questions LOL, SORRY

[nursegirl6572]

LOL---you're very welcome.

It is more that some docs believe that the figures of HOW delayed seroconversion can be are overinflated.  Someone with serious immunosuppression issues (like the examples I gave) very well may take a bit longer to develop antibodies that would be able to be detected on a test.  Hopefully that makes sense.  Not a question of WHY.  They have already determined that pretty much nothing else affects seroconversion...not the presence of other diseases, not medications, nothing.

Also, the 3 month window period is believed to be quite conservative as well...but it is always better to be safe than sorry...especially when it comes to something that has the potential of infecting multiple people (if someone had mult partners).

Again, you're welcome...you are completely okay!  :0)

[Jesshelp]

I just had a question about a statement you made:

" Interestingly enough...there is actually a lot of debate over whether even THOSE situations cause delayed seroconversion.  A lot of docs do not believe they do. "

So do you mean there is no clear cut reason why someone can have delayed serconv..based on some doctors?

[Jesshelp]

Ms.Nursegirl,
SO THATSSSSSSSSSSS why they say the whole 97% to just be extra careful like you've said, and even that is over conservative? I must say what you have said is whattttttttttt I was lOOKING FOR!! im actually in tears right now you made me so happy. thank you thank you thank you thank you! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your patience with me. In the words of barney stinson from "how I met your mother"---YOU're AWESOME

[nursegirl6572]

jesshelp,

You are completely in the clear.  IN RARE instances, it is recommended that a person test PAST the 3 month mark...examples of those scenarios would be...someone on aggressive chemotherapy, an organ transplant patient taking anti-rejection drugs, a person with advanced (basically terminal) cancer.  In all instances...a person with pretty much ZERO immune system.  You do not fall into those categories.

Interestingly enough...there is actually a lot of debate over whether even THOSE situations cause delayed seroconversion.  A lot of docs do not believe they do.

Lastly...to help ease your mind and make you understand the rapidness in which the majority of people seroconvert....neither doctor here in the expert forum, with combined DECADES of dealing with HIV/AIDS have EVER seen a person become "POS" after a NEG result at 6 weeks.  My professional experience is the same.  Most of the pts I have dealt with tested POS very quickly...some within 2-3 weeks, the average seeming to be about 4.

You can take your 3+ month NEG result to the bank.  How "risky" your encounter was makes no difference...an exposure is an exposure.  In other words....a person with unprotected anal sex (male to male) needs to test to 3 months, just as the person with unprotected hetero intercourse.

Congrats.

[Jesshelp]

I was going over what was said to me, and realized that the comment stated about having immune compromised systems is the only reason I would take longer to turn positive was DELETED. Does that mean that statement is incorrect, and was removed? Im sorry Im just really trying to have a clear explaination why some may take longer than 3 months.

[Teak]

3 months is conclusive. You don't fall in the 3% that might take longer than 3 months.

[Jesshelp]

So Mr.Teak, do you agree that the 3% is for individuals who have compromised immune systems or other circumstances like "goodsite" stated? Or can this 6 months still apply to a normal person like myself?

[Teak]

Rapid tests are reliable if taken at the proper time.

[Jesshelp]

Also, I found this on this website http://www.aboutmyhealth.us/test.htm , second paragraph where it states :

In some cases, as with the highly publicized 2004 recall of “Discreet” HIV Test Kits, it is possible for the kits to completely fail to detect infection. According to the Federal Trade Commission, “Kits advertised as 99.4% accurate had error rates of 59.3%”

So the rapid tests are not reliable? please advise