Understanding Testing Results

[NeedAnswers911]

I took 3 HIV tests since my exposure...

7 Weeks
3rd Generation Antibody
Negative for HIV-1 & HIV-2

8 Weeks
Aptima HIV-1 RNA Qualitative Assay
Negative for HIV-1

8 Weeks
3rd Generation Antibody
Negative for HIV-1 & HIV-2

My doctor told me to be conclusive I have to test again at 12 weeks. I'm just confused and scared.

1. Is it even possible to test negative for antibodies and test negative for the virus itself?

2. Like wouldn't one or the other have been positive?

3. Can they both be at undetectable levels?

[NeedAnswers911]

That is vey true James. Thank you...

I was just confused about it not being diagnostic because they just charged me like an extra $150 to take the test and told me it was FDA approved to be diagnostic.

I looked up elite controllers. They say it's 1 in 200 people or something. That would me it like 0.005% of all HIV infected people on the U.S.

My doctor told me I have a 3% chance of testing positive at 12 weeks. I woukd prefer to believe I have better luck than that. Maybe I need a new doctor.

[JamesD1991]

Look, all that matters is that you don't have HIV.

[NeedAnswers911]

Also, I wish I would have known it wasn't a diagnostic test. The clinic told me that the test I was taking was "FDA approved for diagnostic testing."

Did they lie to me?

[JamesD1991]

The test measures viral load. Which is why it's designed for people for people already diagnosed. The reason it could be is because some people could be elite controllers and not have viral loads. This is very, very rare. But could be a possibility

[NeedAnswers911]

Everything is just so confusing. The clinic, my doctor, they all say different things. Can you share some insight as to how and why it "could" become less effective? What is it testing for that decreases over time?

[JamesD1991]

It could become less accurate, key word could. That's why it's not used as a diagnostic test. You've also had an antibody test though. That would've been positive if you really had HIV.

[NeedAnswers911]

I asked my doctor those questions and he was very vague. He told me that RNA testing would be considerably less effective after 40 days, but everything I read says its 99% accurate after like a month. I felt super confident until my doctor said 40 days.

Do you know where he would have gotten that kind of information from? Does it become less accurate over time?

[JamesD1991]

1. In the first 5-15 days after exposure and that's it.
2. Yes
3. No

12 weeks is just to comply with federal guidelines. If you have HIV, you would've tested positive by now.