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please define .....
#51813 - 12/24/02 12:55 AM
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what are the differences and what do the following do or show or dont show when testing for hiv. how do these differ from one another and when do use which test and why? which is the most accurate?
1- elisa or eia
2- western blott
3- pcr
thanks
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Well, I'll give this a shot. Anyone feel free to correct anything I say in mistake. The ELISA or EIA is the standard HIV screening test. This test looks for antibodies in your blood that react to the HIV virus. It basically looks for your body's immune response to infection. This test will only show a reliabe result AFTER your body has created antibodies in response to HIV infection. Most people produce antibodies (seroconvert) within a couple of weeks of infection. However, it may take up to 3 months for some people. In others, it may take up to 6 months. The time between initial infection and seroconversion is known as the "window period". During this time, as stated above, the ELISA test is not a sure bet. So, it is best to wait at least a few weeks after your possible exposure to be tested. Now, if an ELISA test produces a positive result, the same blood sample is tested again using the Western Blot test. Since the ELISA is so sensitive and can sometimes show false-positives, the Western Blot test is used as confirmation of infection. The PCR is a more expensive HIV test, not normally used for screening. This test detects the actual VIRUS in your blood, not your body's response to it. As far as I know the PCR is a more conclusive test, as it can detect HIV within the previously mentioned "window period". This test isn't normally used to diagnose HIV infection as far as I know. I'm not really sure what it's main us is. But I have heard of many people requesting this test when they repeated receive negative ELISA results and are still concerned that they may be infected. I hope this helps answer your question.
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thank you for that answer - so an elisa/eia is conclusive at 6 months then, no seroconversion happens after that?
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According to every doctor/health professional I've spoken to, 6 months is the absolute longest that it should take. Like I said earlier, it's almost always within 3 months or less.
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thanks again!
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No prob, man. If you still want to talk about it, I'm just sitting here.
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Appartently one third of Hiv cases are coinfection with Hepatitis which extends the window period beyond the 3 month mark.
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That figure is incorrect. HEP. generally does not cause a delay in HIV antibody production. If that was the case then there would be a massive amount of people that take more than 3 months. 99.9% of people will seroconvert by 90 days with a vast majority showing up by 60 days. There are a few exteme cases of 6 months or more, but they are exceedingly rare and not worth worrying over.
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Not worth worrying over unless your one of the extreme cases.Chances of winning a lottery are extreme,but every week somone wins.Would the delay be past one year?
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I HATE WHEN SOMEONE BRINGS UP THIS LOTTERY BS!!
Don't state things you don't know much abouy because people tune in to get support not your OPINION of the window period!
THE WINDOW PERIOD IS 3 MONTHS. This allows much more than enough time to show positive. If you show negative on Elisa at 90 days then move on.
Use PCR only when you need the emtional support of another negative. NORT BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU ARE POSITIVE BECAUSE IF YOU SHOW NEGATIVE AT 3 MONTHS ON ELISA THEN YOU ARE NEGATIVE
Please trust your test. CALL THE GMHC IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THE WINDOW PERIOD.
3 months negative is NEGATIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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If the window period is 3 months then why does the cdc say a known exposure should test out to 6 months,If i new the person had hiv i wouldn't have slept with them DA,Also co-infection could delay antibody's past 6 months.
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I read at positive singles .com that it depends on the amount of the virus that entered the body that determines the window period. Other words if you have alot of the virus enter your body it would show quicker. A little should show at the 6 month mark.
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shadow1
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Legend
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Reged: 12/06/00
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Posts: 1209
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And again you are wrong as all of the other scenarios you have given. If the virus is introduced into your system, it will immediately start working to on your immune system; it doesn’t matter if there is a lot or a little. It will take the same amount of time to seroconvert no matter how much of the virus you contract.
You have also read wrong because the CDC and all agencies say that 90 days is conclusive and 120 is not necessary any more, no matter if you know the person was Pos or not.
The G-Man
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shadow1
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Legend
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Reged: 12/06/00
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Posts: 1209
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Well again you are mistaking other things for HIV; those are related to your obsessive stressing over something that you do not have. I have had this disease since 1989 and I do not, or have not ever had any of those problems that you say means you must be HIV+. Everyone I know that is + doesn’t have those problems, and I know many people that are HIV+. What you are calling symptoms is only symptoms in your head, and stress brings most of those on. Maybe you have been reading too much and are so worried that you are constantly checking your body out for a new sign. This is un healthy and will only stress you out because normal body problems will become even more inflamed and swollen if you do not stop poking, pushing, scratching, rubbing them all the time. You have to understand if the HIV virus were in your system you would have already tested HIV+ at 3 months. It takes no longer if it is in your system.
The G-Man
P.S.
Quit stressing over nothing and have a Merry Christmas
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G'man I've been writting to these boards for the last two months and I really appreciate the time you put in I wrote a letter on page three tormented soul. Thats my situation. What I find hard to understand is that all the so called experts say that Hiv is a very new disease and so little is known about it and that nothing in medicine is 100% so how can you say that a 3 month window period is conclusive. Maybe its my paranoia but ever since this encounter my body has gone beserk. Today is my 17th week. I'll let you know how I go and I would really appreciate your oppinion...
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