Weakly Reactive duo test

[Xavier69]

Please can you help me - a result has come back weakly reactive.

What does this mean exactly? Previous tests have been sent to confirmation lab and come back negative, though the result paper doesn't state why they were sending it to the reference lab. The clinic did say that my previous two tests were equivocal and also that this new one was, but on the paper it says weakly reactive. Is weakly reactive and equivocal the same thing?

This test they say is 'identical' to a test a couple of months ago and so they aren't sending it for retesting.

[Vance2335]

As the weakly positive test form a "quick test"?

[Xavier69]

Thank you Vance!

[Vance2335]

Negative/non-reactive, positive/reactive or equivocal-neither positive nor negative.

I would not worry about it either since you are getting negative results on confirmation tests.

[Xavier69]

Yes, I meant 'NOT' - sorry!

I'm wondering if it this particular test used first each time that keeps showing as equivocal/weakly reactive  that is the problem. The other three confirmatory tests all show as negative.

By the way, is a weakly reactive result often referred to as equivocal when talking about antibody tests? I'm guessing there are three outcomes - negative, weakly reactive or positive. Any idea?

[Vance2335]

Well a DUO test is positive would be positive at 4 weeks because of the antigens part of the test.

You don't have a positive test and that combined with your non-risks and I assume you meant "I've been told 'NOT' to worry". It is more fearful because you have the unknown infront of you and your mind is wondering to all possibilities.

[Xavier69]

Surely if my last test is showing as  weakly reactive they cant just leave it? They say they don't need to send it to the reference lab for further testing as the result was identical to the test two months previous.

Or maybe they feel that HIV isn't the cause of these results?