Please please please reply, ORASURE question!

Mar 5, 2007

Hi Dr. Bob,

First of all, I am sorry about your loss. I've been reading these forums on and off for a long time, and it saddened me to read about it. I hope it will get easier for you with time.

My question is about the Orasure test. I had one done 6 months after last risky exposure, and it came out negative. But being a worried well, i read about the test on the internet, and it says that when testing, you must hold the swab in your mouth for 2 minutes. I am pretty sure I did not do that. The nurse told me to guide the swab around my gums back and forth.

I should assume she knew what she was doing and the test was administered correctly, right? Even though I don';t think it soaked between my gums and mouth for 2 minutes? If it was not enough musoca on the swab, it would give an invalid result, not a false negative, right?

Thank you so much for your response!

Response from Dr. Frascino

Hello,

Relax, Max! The nurse administered the test properly and your result is indeed valid.

Dr. Bob