HIV test accuracy

[mike12565]

Just general question, how can people rely on HIV tests if it is known that they have 0.003% false-negative rate (30 out of 1 000 000)?

[ECN44120]

YES if you have one or several negative test beyond the window period (3 months =13 weeks ) then you are HIV negative, if your last test was 13 months after the exposure you dont have HIV, forget about it, if the test werent good enough the werent aproved by the FDA, so move on.

Bye

[mike12565]

So you are saying that my several negative test results, the last one taken 13 months after exposure, could be in NO NO NO way false negative? I still think of these false negatives or not enough production of antibodies. I still have some health problems. My exposure was in Dominican Rep.

[ECN44120]

The who information, the specificity of 99.997, is becouse indeterminate results in the most of the cases, NOT that a positive sample that is prooven to be positive can result negative on the test. The reason some test dont  have 100% sensivity or specifity is becouse of the indeterminate results and the false positives, A false negative result is very very very rare with modern test, and the main cause of it are testing during the seroconversion period (Before 3 months after exposure)

Hope it helps another good source of info is this link, *** explains how the test works.

http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=kb-00&doc=kb-02-02-01

[regularjoey]

30 out of a million - that's lightning-strike odds.  You can't seriously be worried over things like that.

[Teak]

You can't consider a negative result taken earlier than than what the test is approved, a false negative.

[HSci34]

Do not worry about false negatives. HIV tests are among the most sensitive medical tests available. It is exceedingly, exceedingly, exceedingly, exceedingly, exceedingly rare to get a false negative.

[mike12565]

Thanks, there is lots of info in it, I read most of it. But I still dont understand what the false negative rate 0.003% actually means.Is it that those people were never tested positive? I am really confused now.

[ECN44120]

Mike if you want to know hoe the test are evaluated, and then has their individual estatical report please read this WHO bulletin, the you will have an idea of how the test get their respective specifity and sensivity values.

I hope it helps.

http://www.who.int/diagnostics_laboratory/publications/hiv_assays_rep_14.pdf

[mike12565]

No, I just wanted to know opinions on this fact.

[Teak]

If you want a statistical report on testing post your question on the Doctors Forum.

[mike12565]

Thanks Teak, but my question was more general as this rate is statisticaly reported.

[Teak]

That's something you'll never have to worry about. You were never at risk for contracting HIV and you've got your conclusive tests results to prove it.