Should i retest ?

[ikka87]

Hello Doctors, i know that  you already told me to forget about my exposure and  move on. Here is my previous question :
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/Rapid--blood-test-after-9-weeks/show/1910470

however, i recently saw some comments made by Dr. Hook regarding accuracy of rapid blood test. thus i wonder if 9 week negative test still can be considered conclusive ?
Thank in advance,

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Correct, particularly as time passes.  EWH

[ikka87]

Thank you for your answer. correct me if i am wrong but the concerns about accuraccy of rapid test are mainly about saliva tests? while blood rapid tests are almost as accurate as laboratory ?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to the Forum.  I'm sorry that you continue to worry about the exposure you have described.  Please remember that each or our responses consider the circumstances of the individual who is asking the question. In your case you had a single exposure which was condom protected.  Thus, on the basis of this your estimated risk for infection even before testing was less than 1 in a million (and probably substantially less).  then you tested at a time when virtually all  tests are positive and that was negative.  Even if 1% of rapid tests are negative at 9 weeks (and that is too high), that would make your mathematical risk somewhere in the neighborhood of less than 1 in 100 million.  In other words, there is simply no realistic risk that you are infected.  For you to continue to worry or to have continuing concerns is simply not realistic.  Your results are conclusive.

Take care. EWH