When are HIV AB/AG 4th Gen tests conclusive?

[emem21]

Unprotected vaginal sex 3 times on April 11 with a partner of high risk.
16 days post exposure = neg hiv 4th gen
24 days post exposure = neg Alere Determine rapid
34 days post exposure = net Alere Determine rapid
35 days post exposure = neg ab/Ag 4th gen
However despite all of these negative tests I have several symptoms, including swollen lymph nodes for 3 weeks (throughout body, doctor confirmed)
Bleeding during intercourse
Oral hairy leukoplakia (confirmed)
Lost 15 pounds
Loss of appetite
Headaches
Yeast infections (reoccurring)
Diagnosed with trichomonaisis
Sore throat
I have been given azithromycin and ciprofloxacin for my symptoms and neither have helped
So my question is when should I go back for another test? Or are mine conclusive? It is currently 43 days post exposure.  Also is the trichomonaisis concerning because it increases hiv transmission rate?
Thank you

[CurfewX]

The information provided to you is incorrect.  Experts state that the 4th generation test is conclusive at 28 days post-exposure (or beyond).  You are conclusively negative.

[Chancej]

Can you please link where all these "experts" are concluding that 4th gen tests are conclusive at 28+ days ? There's only one place I have seen that, and that is on this website. The CDC, nor CATIE, nor any doctor or HIV specialists I have seen yet have provided such information. Six weeks should be your answer with a follow up at 3 months to confirm those results as conclusive. Thank you. I would love to add to my knowledge base for the future, but I just CAN NOT find anyone who has actual medical training, or is an "expert" that agrees that 28+ days post exposure is CONCLUSIVE. Thank you.

[Chancej]

"Most people develop antibodies after the first month but a small percentage can take upto the 3 months." that's directly from CATIE, in an email in regards to fourth generation testing dated from April 25th / 2017

[CurfewX]

The CDC is highly conservative.  I'm not going to pour through the archives at MedHelp.  The information I'm providing is directly from Drs. Hook and Hansfield, who are leading HIV experts and used to post here for a fee.  Additionally, more progressive countries, such as Australia, advise that the tests are considered conclusive at 28 days.

I see that you have recently arrived at MedHelp (and have had a number of posts deleted by them), and may not be aware that the staff here does not permit people to post inaccurate information.  They remove posts, so if what I've been saying here for years was incorrect, it would be long gone and I'd probably be banned.

If you want further information, I'd suggest consulting an EXPERT in the field - specifically, HIV, not just any doctor.

[Chancej]

They only allow/remove what they think is correct in their opinions. Which is fine. I just hate to see people misguided. How does the saying go? Better safe than sorry... but anyway. Best of luck to everyone.

[CurfewX]

Well, apart from the ability to search the archives here on MedHelp, here are a couple of helpful resources.  All 3 doctors who respond to questions about the accuracy of the Duo aka 4th generation aka Ab/Ag test state that it is accurate at 28 days.  Dr. Sean even states a figure - 99.89%.  You're not likely to find odds better than that on anything in life.  

Hope these help:
https://www.freedomhealth.co.uk/forum/f3/worrying-needlessly-dr-sean-342/

http://www.drtanandpartners.com/hiv-window-period/

[emem21]

Thank you for your response and information. I will keep you updated on my next test (if I decide to get one, since it is considered conclusive after 28 days) additionally I have asked the "high risk" male involved to get tested and he is awaiting results so that will be helpful as well.

[Chancej]

Curfew, I did read both articles you shared in the comment, and with reading those and trying to still wrap my head around everything that I see where they are saying the 4th gen testing is conclusive at 28 days. Unless someone had a real high risk exposure, then they advise testing 1-2 weeks after exposure just to rule it out completely. Makes sense. (And gives you the other half of the 4 possibly 6 week spectrum). Now I read right through those articles, and I feel like I am more comfortable with those answers, however, I got Dr Tans views on oral sex, which is considered no risk here, and he raises the same issues or theories that I still see along with the CDC. His view on is more then NO risk, even if evaluated as low risk. So the strong stance here from some members / mods of NO risk still seems extreme. Maybe even if people are just experiencing guilt, anxiety and are over paranoid, to completely dismiss them
seems somewhat unfair.

http://www.drtanandpartners.com/getting-hiv-from-oral-sex/

[Chancej]

Edit to above comment:
Again relating to oral sex, and I'm just using examples from two sources you choose to cite.

The above example was from Dr. Tan, this example is from freedom health.

https://www.freedomhealth.co.uk/blog/the-risks-of-oral-sex-by-dr-alex/

Both of which are paid clinics, which I don't know if that's really a good or bad thing (and I'm being serious, not trying to be sarcastic). I'm in Canada, so luckily I can get tested every day of the week for HIV with 4th gen duo testing free of charge, so paying for such a thing is confusing to me.

[Chancej]

4-6 weeks is good indication, however not conclusive until 3 months (13 weeks)

[emem21]

If I am experiencing symptoms, would antibodies or antigens be detectable?

[Chancej]

Yes one or the other should be present as "syptoms" (which are not used to diagonise HIV) is your bodies way of showing it is fighting a infection / virus.