Sounds like your tests are coming up neither positive nor negative so they are doing a WB for confirmation which are comign back negative. Did you have an exposure that makes you test?
The confirmation tests were three different duo tests, not WB - and have not been performed on this last test result as they say there was no change in the result.
I have only had protected anal sex and some unprotected oral sex, but no ejaculation in my mouth.
So the Duo tests coming up negative? And when was your last protected anal/unprotected oral?
I assume the testing place is telling you not to worry correct?
The first duo on all three tests is not negative. I know for a fact that the last test is showing as 'weakly reactive', but the previous two tests don't have it written, only that I was told they were equivocal (as I was for the third before I read it was weakly reactive).
The first two tests that did go to the reference lab had three further DUO tests done, all coming back negative.
I've been told to worry, but I cant help but worry when they cant say why the first two tests were sent for reference lab tests. Obviously, they showed something, but apart from a negative, positive or weakly positive result, what could they show?
Last protected anal sex was about 4-5 weeks before the test.
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?
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.
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?
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.
As the weakly positive test form a "quick test"?
I don't believe that a rapid test was done. I gave a sample from my vein.
Does anyone know if persistent weakly reactive results are common? Mine have been going on for several months now.
They are call indeterminate. Yes they are common. It means you are neither positive or negative and will have to retest.
Ah ok. So, I think that as two of my tests were sent to reference lab and came back negative (three different 4th gen elisa tests were done there) that my results are possibly caused by something that is maybe not hiv.
My last test came back as weakly reactive but they said there was no need to send it for more testing as it came back with the same result of the test two months before.
You need the conclusive test result.
I have just tested again. What if that too comes back as weakly positive? Surely after several months it would be due to something other than hiv by then, if two confirmatory tests have already rules out infection? Why would they not have tested the last test again if it was weakly reactive? Surely they just cant leave it unless they were sure it was ok - they said the results of that test were identical to the previous one.
Then go to another testing clinic and take just an antibody test.
They have all been antibody tests - and at the reference lab, all three seperate tests came back negative, as well as the p24 test.
A P24 test is not an antibody test. It's an antigen test.
Yes, but I have had:
Isn't an Anti-HIV 1 / HIV 2 + P24AG a duo test? Testing for antibodies and antigen?
They did three tests for these...all different manufacturers.
there is nothing to worry. just to be sure get tested at 3 months from a different lab. which will have a different assay. it will negative for sure.
get tested after 3 months from a different lab for a all conclusive test.
..but these tests have been like this for about 9 months already in total!
..plus if on my last test they saw a weakly reactive result, it would surely be totally wrong for them to have just left it, right? Un less they were sure nothing was going on ie. as mentioned before, there hadn't been a change between those tests which were two months apart.
Following each initial test a further three tests were done on each sample, each coming back negative.