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Are early tests beneficial?
#19020 - 07/09/01 09:12 AM
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Can anyone tell me:
* If there is any benefit to testing at the 1 month mark?
* If there is any benefit to using the Home Access test at, say, 4, 6, & 8 weeks?
By "benefit", I of course mean "will it catch antibodies if they have been developed at this early stage?" Alternately, if antibodies will NOT be developed at this early stage, that answer counts as well. Please assume standard follow ups at 3 and 6 months.
Thanks!
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Why would you test every two weeks? It does not make sense to spend the money on all those tests. Sure it may mentally be beneficial, but if you are positive there is not a lot that is going to be done between 6wks - 3months medically. I would highly recommend tests at 6 weeks with Elisa, and if the stress is so bad and you have good medical insurance do the PCR DNA HIV test at 6 weeks also (if this is negative you can be sure that you do not have HIV and you do not need further testing). FYI--The PCR DNA HIV test is VERY expensive so don't pay out of pocket. If you can not take the PCR HIV DNA test then take the elisa at 3 months also, and you can be nearly certain at that point of your true HIV status (95-99%). Good luck to you
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Hi, and thanks for the response. I'm sure your advice is good, but it doesn't really speak to my question: Is it possible for early testing to catch antibody development, and if so is there a benefit to early testing with Home Access at the intervals of, say, 4, 6, and 8 weeks?
Thanks all.
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It is NOT beneficial. It sounds as though you are wanting an exact date to when someone who is seroconverting will test HIV+ The average date of seroconversion is 25-27 days according to research, which means there is no specific date in which the HIV will be detected other than 3 months and 6 months. You can be assured that at that point the HIV WILL be detected in ANY test (possibly excluding p24 antigen which usually is most valuable 2-4 wks after exposure). So to answer your question...NO, it is not valuable to have numberous tests during the window period. Will the HIV be detected? Possibly...depends on the time the test was administered (e.g.-the closer to 3 months the better the odds are the test will detect the virus). Home access tests are valuable but they too are costly when done frequently. I suggest anyone who fears infection wait 3 months to test with ELISA, and have a follow up test at 6 months for 99.99% certainty.
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early testing like that means less stress waiting the phony 3-6 month window period because 95% will show positive within 4 weeks thats a fact.
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First off...there is nothing "phoney" about the 3 month testing window. Yes, MOST
folks with today's tests WILL show they are antibody pos if truly infected by 4 to 6
weeks with the current assays...BUT some might slip by...and although catching HIV
would not be fun, infecting your love one or sex partner would definitely not be
fun...therefore, what you are trying to do here, is make yourself believe you are neg,
when in fact you have doubts. The truth is, if you got a neg result at 6 weeks then 8
weeks, the odds are probably >98 you're neg...now if you can live with that, then
move on...but if you want to have a relationship, minus protection, I would advise the
BRAVE and CORRECT thing to do is test at 3 months...if that's neg, then you've
lived up to your personal responsibility. 6 months is so rare that unless your exposure
was to a know person with HIV, it's probably unnecessary.
But, another question to ask yourself is, "are you at risk"? The odds are you ARE
NOT...therefore, you ought to talk to a REAL MD who understands HIV and
transmission, and there's a good chance you don't even need to test...and if the 6 -8
weeks tests are/were neg...you can and should move on.
Peace
Shaner
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Much less than 95% will show a positive status with a standard elisa (Home Access Test which is referenced in the original post) at 4 weeks, at three months you can be assured near 99.9% of your infection with the standard elisa (Home Access Test). The six month time-frame is simply assurance and many experts argue it is not necessary. Unfortunately there are few facts with HIV, and setting statistics for testing validity (during the window period) based on time tables is not one of them... (I would be interested in knowing the source of your statistical reference) If everything was fact there would not be such an enormous amount of conflicting data that presently exists. One fact is that at 6 months post-exposure to any risky, sexual behavior you can be as sure as ever (with consecutive tests indicating the same HIV status) of your true HIV status.
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Hey Oops,
Wasn't your risk a kiss?
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Two phase risk , neither of which is realistic unless I'm talking about MY risk:
1) Protected sex with a sex-worker who says she is tested and is negative. And, recently, who also got in touch with me via the grapevine to ask if I was sleeping ok these days. At any rate, the condom stayed in place and intact.
2) An alluded-to risk by the CDC regarding the possibility of blood in the escort's mouth, along with a nearly-healed cold sore lesion on my lower lip. Escort pooh-pooh's this one as simply impossible.
I know - but I'm no more immune to the OCD-type worries than anyone else. I can easily afford two or three Home Access tests to continue allaying my fears up until the standard 3 or 6 month follow up, which is why I started this thread in the first place.
It's not an attempt to duck my responsibility. It's an attempt to maintain my sanity by proving to myself that I'm ok.
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No Oops there is no benefit.It sucks but you really should wait the 3 months, if you have to then take one around the 8 week mark it should give you a much better idea that you will be neg but the anxiety you seem to have will just build waiting for your results.
also just to clear a point up... the average time it takes to build antibodies is 21 days this is the average time and the average time is just that an average which means that 50% (not 95) of people if infected will show positive. so please save your time, money and sanity by focusing on something else,I know it is hard but it isn't impossible.
peace
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Nope - not impossible, but you're right - it's *really* hard. Took the Home Access test today, I will also take one at 8 weeks (6 if I start getting wierd again), and then 3 months as well.
It's like..... I *know* I shouldn't be worried, which helps, but every once in a while it really takes over in my head. To paraphrase Jocko, the *conscience* is a really powerful thing.
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I have to tell you Oops ..... I don't entirely agree with just waiting around until the 3 month mark - especially when you said that money is not an issue. I truly believe that a PCR test could ease your mind (this is sometimes a controversial issue ..... but read what some of the folks at aidsmeds.com have to say about it). A neg. or undetectable PCR for you at this point in time (especially with a neg. Elisa) will pretty much guarantee you don't have HIV. Call Quest Diagnostics and talk to one of their counselors .... they have some good info. Hey, if money is no object ..... I think your sanity and peace of mind should come first - I suggest looking into it.
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However, Oops ..... I must also tell you - there's no way you were infected from a kiss. I know that sounds overly confident on my part, but I really think that truly looking into the whole OCD thing is where you will find your answers - I know that's what I need.
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Thanks Jocko..... I know I didn't contract HIV from the kiss. I know that if a condom stays in place, and remains intact as mine did, that I didn't contract HIV from vaginal intercourse. But here's my problem:
* 1 of 3 people at the CDC recommended testing.
* 2 of 2 physicians refused to say "Oops, you did not contract HIV from this encounter." 1 physician said a baseline now, followed by a 6 month test, was in order.
* 2 of 2 COUNSELORS at my local health clinic said "Oops, you did not contract HIV from this encounter."
Read that as 3 out of 5 presumably knowledgable people either recommended testing or refused to say "you could have been smarter in your actions, but you did not contract HIV from this experience."
Logically, I know I'm ok. I can even convince myself that I have nothing to worry about MOST of the time, and life progresses normally. But then, almost out of nowhere.... BOOM! Shortness of breath, shaky hands, sweats.... and as soon as I get a grip on myself and start rehashing the facts, it all goes away - until the next time.
So that's why I'm testing. That's why I'm concerned. And that's why I'm taking an encounter with almost non-existent risk and letting it become an issue.
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Well, if you're gonna do it, then do it. But, screw this Home Access crap. Call Quest, get a 3rd generation Elisa (1&2) combined with a proviral PCR DNA ...... take the hard-core tests and get this over with! So, add me to your numbers list of people telling you to test ..... call them now and test today! But here's the catch, my friend: If you're sweating over HIV over these exposures, how are you ever going to be able to live your life without the deathly fear of contracting it? I can tell you're smart (I believe most OCD's are) ..... but be wise enough to take the "bull by the horns" and look into this OCD. I know you don't want to continue living like this. I also know that some people can come off a bit harsh when they hear your story ..... but your fear is REAL - I know that - and you really need to look into this. Good luck, Oops!
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