Lost and Confused

[Confusedguy1984]

Hello Doctors, I must say i have looked up and down the dr. expert forum searching for answers on testing times. I see time to time where it will be stated that it can take rarely beyond 3 months etc. but in another post will see  "it never takes longer than 3 months", or "everyone is positive by 3 months it never takes longer". Im unsure of what to trust in testing times to be 100% sure of things.

I would rather not have to test again at 6 months but if i must i will. Are these people you speak of when you say rarely longer than 3 months people taking PEP or on Chemo etc.

Im tired of being mentally and physically ill thinking about if im truly ok even with a 86-87 day negative with a lab blood test.

Please help end this inner debate for myself or tell me to test again at 6 months if its possible and i will, either way thanks for your time Dr.

[Confusedguy1984]

i see that but i also see on a diff post where person is told to test at 8 then 3 again, is this just an exseption for type of exposure. i have had a neg 3 month test already

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I repeat "On this Forum, our recommendation for the vast majority of clients is that if a test for HIV is negative at 8 weeks no further testing is needed.".  The answer will not change.  EWH

[Confusedguy1984]

i pretty much understand what your saying but is it even realistically possible or ever happens that it takes longer than 12weeks/3 months?

[Confusedguy1984]

i pretty much understand what your saying but is it even realistically possible or ever happens that it takes longer than 12weeks/3 months?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  On this Forum, our recommendation for the vast majority of clients is that if a test for HIV is negative at 8 weeks no further testing is needed.  Some of the confusion over when testing is most reliable relates to the fact that over the past 20 years, as tests have evolved they have become more sensitive and accurate.  Thus 2 decades ago it sometimes took up to 3 months for a test to become positive.  Today however that is no longer the case.  Neither of u, nor multiple colleagues we have spoken with are aware of anyone in the past 2-3 years  who has gotten HIV who did not become positive within 8 weeks of exposure unless they had taken PEP or were profoundly immunosuppressed.  If you have been tested at 8 weeks and are negative, believe your test results and more on.

Furthermore, I would add that some organizations and web sites who, for some reason believe they cannot "take a chance" continue to use the dated older recommendations that only a 3 or even 6 moth test is reliable.  We disagree,  

On the other hand, as a generalization for both you and other readers, you must realize that we VERY frequently get questions asking if different types of exposures or prevention measures are 100% effective.  The answer to that is that this is scientifically impossible.  For a variety of complex mathematical reasons far too complex to go into here, all one can do with well conducted scientific studies is estimate probabilities.  By definition, any estimate, cannot be 100% certain.  On the other hand, when Dr. Handsfield or I say that something is very close to no risk or of minimal risk, or use any other term to indicate a very small risk, that means "close to zero" in a world where zero cannot be attained.  

I hope these comments are helpful to you.  EWH

[Confusedguy1984]

also like to not that i had flu like symptoms at 7 months (ache, chills, fever) also at around 4 months had itchy rash if that matters at all.