The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource
Sign up for free e-mail updates!The Body en Espanol
Home All Topics Ask the Experts What's New Connect Treatment Prevention Living
Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.

Ask the Experts about Opportunistic Infections

 

please help me--question about home HIV test
Jul 1, 2001

hello dear doctor, i once got a hiv home test kits(including a special paper can tell the result in 15 minutes) and did the blood test myself at home, recently i heared there is only one HIV-1 Home Collection Test System is approved by US FDA, i am not sure whether the kits and the "paper" i used is approved. if it is not approved ,can i get infected by the virus antigen on that "paper" ? why the FDA says it is dangerous to use the unapproved kits? i am worried all the time and hope you will answer me . thanks a lot.

Response from Dr. Feinberg

You cannot get HIV from an HIV antibody test, so relax. The FDA says it is dangerous to use an unapproved test because you run the risk that your test results won't be accurate, and this is a situation where the wrong answer can be deadly.



Terms of Use
Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their messages.

Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.

Copyright notice.

global Toolbox

global Toolbox
E-mail this to a friendE-mail this to a friend
GlossaryGlossary