Aa
What's the real truth?
Hi.
What are the window periods for all hiv tests? ( when test are final)
Been to two docs and got two diff answers... one told me 84 -90 days then one told me 6 month and a year...
Does anyone know the exact answer? What can I trust?
Also.... what is the Highest risk? Does high sex risk mean u have to test out more? even if you are not sexually active currently?
Thanks please help :)
What are the window periods for all hiv tests? ( when test are final)
Been to two docs and got two diff answers... one told me 84 -90 days then one told me 6 month and a year...
Does anyone know the exact answer? What can I trust?
Also.... what is the Highest risk? Does high sex risk mean u have to test out more? even if you are not sexually active currently?
Thanks please help :)
The earliest possible testing window period is using a 4th generation duo test, which is considered by many experts to be conclusive at 28 days.
A third generation test will give you a good indication of your status at 6-8 weeks but a final confirmation test is recommended at 12 weeks to be conclusive.
When in doubt, any HIV expert that actually knows what they're talking about will recommend a confirmatory test at 12 weeks or 90 days post exposure. The six to 12 month post exposure window period has been outdated since 2004. So if you're seeing a doctor that recommends anything past 90 days then they are very much behind the times and don't have a clue what they are talking about.
On a related note, DNA-PCR and RNA-PCR tests are not recommended by any HIV experts who know what they're talking about because of the high rate of false positives and other technical issues with that test. That is why they recommend the 28 day post exposure 4th generation duo test as the earliest possible time to get a test that can be considered conclusive.
A third generation test will give you a good indication of your status at 6-8 weeks but a final confirmation test is recommended at 12 weeks to be conclusive.
When in doubt, any HIV expert that actually knows what they're talking about will recommend a confirmatory test at 12 weeks or 90 days post exposure. The six to 12 month post exposure window period has been outdated since 2004. So if you're seeing a doctor that recommends anything past 90 days then they are very much behind the times and don't have a clue what they are talking about.
On a related note, DNA-PCR and RNA-PCR tests are not recommended by any HIV experts who know what they're talking about because of the high rate of false positives and other technical issues with that test. That is why they recommend the 28 day post exposure 4th generation duo test as the earliest possible time to get a test that can be considered conclusive.
9 Comments
Hey thanks! So does high risk intercourse effect the presence in antigens / antibody? I had 4th gen test done // prior to my other question ... do you know if antigens stay till antibodies appear?
Just want to hear diff opinions sorry to ask same question on both your answers! U guys are awesome! N seem educated
An HIV test can't distinguish between high risk or low risk. A risk is a risk and risks require testing to determine whether an infection has occurred.
Your other question doesn't make sense. An antigen specifically causes the production of antibodies which bind to it and combine to fight off the diseases in the body. So I don't know what you're asking.
Your other question doesn't make sense. An antigen specifically causes the production of antibodies which bind to it and combine to fight off the diseases in the body. So I don't know what you're asking.
Sorry, so what I read is that apparently , antigens are the first to appear.. then comes antibodies ... so I was wondering how long to angteins stay delectable bc I read Also at some point they become non dectable when antibodies appear just something I read a few times so curious to see if this is true
Yes, and this is why the DUO (Ab/Ag) test is so effective at 28 days post-exposure. That's when antigens are declining, but are overlapping with antibodies developing. The test may pick up both antigens and antibodies, but if not both, it will pick up at least one of the two.
Okay got it... so how can I be sure I got checked for both? I tried asking my doc office... of course told me they have no idea ugh... my test name was " hiv screen 4th generation wrfx" apparently laBcorp uses this one a lot now I never seen this one before on any of my other tests in the past... laBcorp said they couldn't give me any info either on the test.. not sure why..
Btw, I had a test at 86 days! Negative with the test I stated above... now should I have done this test at 28 days? Or is it over 28 days just as final to detect antibodies/ antigens?
By 86 days, antigens would have disappeared, so that part of the test wouldn't be relevant. ALL tests check for antibodies, which if present, would have shown up in your 86 day test. You are conclusively negative.
Thank you guys so much, I have been stressed and worried even with my neg test, having two diff docs tell me two diff things deff made my anxiety rise and just alone being at real high risk didn't help. Thank you again you all were so helpful! I'm going to get one more done just to put my anxiety to rest but I won't be as scared! Thank u all!!!!
HIV Tests For Screening and Diagnosis
HIV tests are very accurate, but no test can detect the virus immediately after infection. How soon a test can detect infection depends upon different factors, including the type of test being used. There are three types of HIV diagnostic tests: antibody tests, combination or fourth-generation tests, and nucleic acid tests (NATs).
Antibody tests detect the presence of antibodies, proteins that a person’s body makes against HIV, not HIV itself. Most HIV tests, including most rapid tests and home tests, are antibody tests. It can take 3 to 12 weeks for a person’s body to make enough antibodies for an antibody test to detect HIV infection. In general, antibody tests that use blood can detect HIV slightly sooner after infection than tests done with oral fluid.
Combination or fourth-generation tests look for both HIV antibodies and antigens. Antigens are a part of the virus itself and are present during acute HIV infection. It can take 2 to 6 weeks for a person’s body to make enough antigens and antibodies for a combination test to detect HIV. Combination tests are now recommended for testing done in labs and are becoming more common in the United States. There is also a rapid combination test available.
NATs detect HIV the fastest by looking for HIV in the blood. It can take 7 to 28 days for NATs to detect HIV. This test is very expensive and is not routinely used for HIV screening unless the person recently had a high-risk exposure or a possible exposure with early symptoms of HIV infection.
HIV tests are very accurate, but no test can detect the virus immediately after infection. How soon a test can detect infection depends upon different factors, including the type of test being used. There are three types of HIV diagnostic tests: antibody tests, combination or fourth-generation tests, and nucleic acid tests (NATs).
Antibody tests detect the presence of antibodies, proteins that a person’s body makes against HIV, not HIV itself. Most HIV tests, including most rapid tests and home tests, are antibody tests. It can take 3 to 12 weeks for a person’s body to make enough antibodies for an antibody test to detect HIV infection. In general, antibody tests that use blood can detect HIV slightly sooner after infection than tests done with oral fluid.
Combination or fourth-generation tests look for both HIV antibodies and antigens. Antigens are a part of the virus itself and are present during acute HIV infection. It can take 2 to 6 weeks for a person’s body to make enough antigens and antibodies for a combination test to detect HIV. Combination tests are now recommended for testing done in labs and are becoming more common in the United States. There is also a rapid combination test available.
NATs detect HIV the fastest by looking for HIV in the blood. It can take 7 to 28 days for NATs to detect HIV. This test is very expensive and is not routinely used for HIV screening unless the person recently had a high-risk exposure or a possible exposure with early symptoms of HIV infection.
1 Comments
Wow thanks!
So about the 4th gen one.. I had that one.. so how long to antigens last? I heard one theory that they only last a couple weeks then I heard they remain until antibodies?
So about the 4th gen one.. I had that one.. so how long to antigens last? I heard one theory that they only last a couple weeks then I heard they remain until antibodies?
What was your risk?
2 Comments
Just answer the question dude, risk risk risk? are u an expert anxiousnomore? hahahahaa
Hi, unpro intercourse multiple times, with 1 partner... found out they were abusing drugs/ sleeping around..
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
