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Testing Concerns
Greeting Dr's, I hope you are wel.
If I may take a few moments of your time to ask a few questions on HIV testing.
1 - Combi (Duo) tests performed at 12 weeks - when negative are they absolutley conclucive?
2 - Have you ever seen one of the above tests go + after say 10 or 12 weeks?
3 - My exposure was unprotected vaginal interacourse with a female of unkown statuts, various symptoms developed in both the female I slept with & a girl I started to see, all varied from sore throats & other "none specific" symptoms, - with this in mind would you suggest any further testing?
4 - Is the Antigen part of the test relaible? Here in the UK, some GUM clinics are scepticle about it. (I understand it is a two prong test though, Ab & AG)
5 - Could any steroid creams such as Eumovate affect the result? Even if they have been used daily for say 20 years?
6 - Apart from the AB/AG test, are there any other tests taht could be used to help quel my anxiety of having caught & potentialls passed on HIV?
Thank you Dr's.
If I may take a few moments of your time to ask a few questions on HIV testing.
1 - Combi (Duo) tests performed at 12 weeks - when negative are they absolutley conclucive?
2 - Have you ever seen one of the above tests go + after say 10 or 12 weeks?
3 - My exposure was unprotected vaginal interacourse with a female of unkown statuts, various symptoms developed in both the female I slept with & a girl I started to see, all varied from sore throats & other "none specific" symptoms, - with this in mind would you suggest any further testing?
4 - Is the Antigen part of the test relaible? Here in the UK, some GUM clinics are scepticle about it. (I understand it is a two prong test though, Ab & AG)
5 - Could any steroid creams such as Eumovate affect the result? Even if they have been used daily for say 20 years?
6 - Apart from the AB/AG test, are there any other tests taht could be used to help quel my anxiety of having caught & potentialls passed on HIV?
Thank you Dr's.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Do not overthink the test. Your negative 4th generation/duo test PROVES you did not catch HIV 12 weeks earlier. With that result, there is never a reason for testing beyond 4 weeks.
Do I see HIV anxiety a lot? Of course -- just scan this forum! Over half the questions are from people with some degree of HIV related anxiety. My recommendation is always the same: if you continue to find it difficult to accept such strong scientific evidence and repeated reassurance you are not infected, consider professional counseling about it.
That is definitely the end of this thread. This forum is not a substitite for professional counseling, and repeated anxiety-driven questions eventually result in deletion of the entire thread.
Do I see HIV anxiety a lot? Of course -- just scan this forum! Over half the questions are from people with some degree of HIV related anxiety. My recommendation is always the same: if you continue to find it difficult to accept such strong scientific evidence and repeated reassurance you are not infected, consider professional counseling about it.
That is definitely the end of this thread. This forum is not a substitite for professional counseling, and repeated anxiety-driven questions eventually result in deletion of the entire thread.
Dr, - please accept this as my very very last questions if you would be so kind.
In terms of the Antigen side of the 4th gen tests, - day 28 is the best to pick it up I beleive, - is their a window period between the Anitegen declining (to undecectable levels) & the Antibody being produced?
May I ask how many years you have personally tested people with the 4th gen tests? Also, in terms of reliabiltiy, having mentioned that ten weeks tests just simply don't turn positive, - is there ever a reason with these tests to go beyond 84 days?
As far as HIV Anxiety goes (which I am sure I have / am still suffering with), is this something you see allot? People just flatly not believeing tests, - what would your reccomendation be to anyone who is currently suffering with HIV Anxiety?
Thank you Dr, - I very much promise these are my last questions.
Thankyou.
In terms of the Antigen side of the 4th gen tests, - day 28 is the best to pick it up I beleive, - is their a window period between the Anitegen declining (to undecectable levels) & the Antibody being produced?
May I ask how many years you have personally tested people with the 4th gen tests? Also, in terms of reliabiltiy, having mentioned that ten weeks tests just simply don't turn positive, - is there ever a reason with these tests to go beyond 84 days?
As far as HIV Anxiety goes (which I am sure I have / am still suffering with), is this something you see allot? People just flatly not believeing tests, - what would your reccomendation be to anyone who is currently suffering with HIV Anxiety?
Thank you Dr, - I very much promise these are my last questions.
Thankyou.
Thank you Dr.
That quote, which I read elswhere on th internet was extremely reassuring.
To know that 300 deligates, all of whom are in the HIV testing arena have not seen a fourth generation test turn positive after 6 weeks is very good information, as you say it is not scientific but I do hope that anyone reading this thread will take something from it if they are at or around the six week mark.
Dr, I have been to hell and back, I have over tested from three weeks, around 12 tests in total with the final being on day 84 - I am starting to rebuild what's left of my sanity - please be aware that the service you offer and the advice you have given me (and others) truly is appreciated.
Best Rgds,
That quote, which I read elswhere on th internet was extremely reassuring.
To know that 300 deligates, all of whom are in the HIV testing arena have not seen a fourth generation test turn positive after 6 weeks is very good information, as you say it is not scientific but I do hope that anyone reading this thread will take something from it if they are at or around the six week mark.
Dr, I have been to hell and back, I have over tested from three weeks, around 12 tests in total with the final being on day 84 - I am starting to rebuild what's left of my sanity - please be aware that the service you offer and the advice you have given me (and others) truly is appreciated.
Best Rgds,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You're asking me to confirm what I already said, using different words. I haven't changed my mind. My quote from a scientific meeting (not at CDC, but that doesn't matter), is accurate -- but of course that doesn't amount to scientific evidence, just informal evidence among the professionals attending the meeting.
Don't over-think it: there is no possibility you have HIV. Period, full stop, end of story. If you have doubts, your nearest GUM clinic, where you will be told the same thing. But there is simply no information you can provide that could possibly change my opinion or advice -- so that will have to end this thread. Do your best to move on.
Don't over-think it: there is no possibility you have HIV. Period, full stop, end of story. If you have doubts, your nearest GUM clinic, where you will be told the same thing. But there is simply no information you can provide that could possibly change my opinion or advice -- so that will have to end this thread. Do your best to move on.
Dr, Thank you very much for you reply indeed.
You are correct that reassurance has been given, - I should consider myself lucky rather than badger on with questions really.
In Q1 above, I was asking about a duo test at 12 weeks as opposed to 4 but you have answered that question below in Q2.
Having spent much time "googling" (Not helpful I know..) I came across an interesting post that has your name by the side, - it mentioned that in a recent conference at the CDC with around 300 delegates, the question was aksed "Has anyone ever seen a six week negtive turn positive with these later tests", the answer given was "no". ---- Can you confirm that this indeed is something you have stated before as that is very interesting not just for me but for anyone else who may too be suffering with a little anxiety???
Having read many many times over that tests count, symptms don't, and with me here appealing to you as someone who has been in a "difficult & worried place" for many many weeks, is there absolutley no reason for to to pursue any further testing past 12 weeks??? I will happiy take your response regardeless how direct it is Dr.
In all of this, my thoughts are with people that do have HIV & this has made me change my lifestyle in a massive wa, - I have never been wreckless but any future contact will be protected & tested.
With best Regards.
You are correct that reassurance has been given, - I should consider myself lucky rather than badger on with questions really.
In Q1 above, I was asking about a duo test at 12 weeks as opposed to 4 but you have answered that question below in Q2.
Having spent much time "googling" (Not helpful I know..) I came across an interesting post that has your name by the side, - it mentioned that in a recent conference at the CDC with around 300 delegates, the question was aksed "Has anyone ever seen a six week negtive turn positive with these later tests", the answer given was "no". ---- Can you confirm that this indeed is something you have stated before as that is very interesting not just for me but for anyone else who may too be suffering with a little anxiety???
Having read many many times over that tests count, symptms don't, and with me here appealing to you as someone who has been in a "difficult & worried place" for many many weeks, is there absolutley no reason for to to pursue any further testing past 12 weeks??? I will happiy take your response regardeless how direct it is Dr.
In all of this, my thoughts are with people that do have HIV & this has made me change my lifestyle in a massive wa, - I have never been wreckless but any future contact will be protected & tested.
With best Regards.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Directly to your questions:
1) Yes. It is impossible to have HIV and still have a negative antibody/p24 antigen (duo, combo) test beyond about 4 weeks.
2) No, nobody has seen this. It doesn't happen.
3) As long as testing is done sufficiently long after exposure -- 4+ weeks for duo/combo -- the results always overrule exposure history and symptoms. And in any case, it sounds like you had a low risk exposure; it is very unlikely your partner had HIV, given how rare HIV is in sexually active women in the UK. Plus symptoms that really don't sound like those of an HIV infection anyway.
4) Yes, both parts of the test are equally relable. The test would not have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and by other countries' equivalent agencies, if they were not highly reliable.
5) No, steroid creams have no effect whatsoever.
6) I cannot recommend any additional tests. You need to work to accept the scientific evidence and the reasoned reassurance you have had -- not just from me, but probably from your own doctor or clinic.
Regards-- HHH, MD
1) Yes. It is impossible to have HIV and still have a negative antibody/p24 antigen (duo, combo) test beyond about 4 weeks.
2) No, nobody has seen this. It doesn't happen.
3) As long as testing is done sufficiently long after exposure -- 4+ weeks for duo/combo -- the results always overrule exposure history and symptoms. And in any case, it sounds like you had a low risk exposure; it is very unlikely your partner had HIV, given how rare HIV is in sexually active women in the UK. Plus symptoms that really don't sound like those of an HIV infection anyway.
4) Yes, both parts of the test are equally relable. The test would not have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and by other countries' equivalent agencies, if they were not highly reliable.
5) No, steroid creams have no effect whatsoever.
6) I cannot recommend any additional tests. You need to work to accept the scientific evidence and the reasoned reassurance you have had -- not just from me, but probably from your own doctor or clinic.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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