Aa
DEAR DOCTOR? HOW MUCH TESTING REQUIRED
Dear Doctor,
I am from India.I had taken 3 times unprotected oral sex from different sex workers 4 months ago.No insertive sex.On 3rd and 15th October i had again taken unprotected oral sex and unprotected vaginal sex.After my last exposure on 15th October and after one week time ie on 22nd october i had rashes on face sudden weight loss of around 6 kgs.I had dizziness and my shoulder and neck began to pain like anything.It was also coupled with loose motions as well.I was very very afraid as these symptoms were quite unusual to me and all of a sudden these things started happening.
Since then till today i had taken following series of HIV testing:-
1) On 3rd week post last exposure-ELISA test-NON REACTIVE
2)On 5th week post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
3) On 7th week post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
4) On 9th week post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
5) On 11th week post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
6) On 83rd day post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
7) On 90 days post last exposure-Tridot test-NEGATIVE
8) On 14 weeks post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
I dont know much about the HIV tests like ECLIA test and Tridot test.
My questions are :1 Am i safe?Do i need further testing
2 Why testing is recommended till 6 months and who are those people which require testing till six months?
Today is 100th day post last exposure and though neck pain has reduced but dizziness still there.
Moreover there are some red tiny spots on my forehead and behind my ears which makes me worried.I have never experienced fever or flu and no swollen nodes.Some pain below my jaws and in groin area though.Doctor i am very very worried and please guide me what to do now?Every passing day is like a living hell for me.Please answer!!!!
Regards
I am from India.I had taken 3 times unprotected oral sex from different sex workers 4 months ago.No insertive sex.On 3rd and 15th October i had again taken unprotected oral sex and unprotected vaginal sex.After my last exposure on 15th October and after one week time ie on 22nd october i had rashes on face sudden weight loss of around 6 kgs.I had dizziness and my shoulder and neck began to pain like anything.It was also coupled with loose motions as well.I was very very afraid as these symptoms were quite unusual to me and all of a sudden these things started happening.
Since then till today i had taken following series of HIV testing:-
1) On 3rd week post last exposure-ELISA test-NON REACTIVE
2)On 5th week post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
3) On 7th week post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
4) On 9th week post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
5) On 11th week post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
6) On 83rd day post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
7) On 90 days post last exposure-Tridot test-NEGATIVE
8) On 14 weeks post last exposure-ECLIA test-NON REACTIVE
I dont know much about the HIV tests like ECLIA test and Tridot test.
My questions are :1 Am i safe?Do i need further testing
2 Why testing is recommended till 6 months and who are those people which require testing till six months?
Today is 100th day post last exposure and though neck pain has reduced but dizziness still there.
Moreover there are some red tiny spots on my forehead and behind my ears which makes me worried.I have never experienced fever or flu and no swollen nodes.Some pain below my jaws and in groin area though.Doctor i am very very worried and please guide me what to do now?Every passing day is like a living hell for me.Please answer!!!!
Regards
plz doctor!!!!!!
Dear Doctor,
Sorry once again for troubling you but i would really appreciate if you can answer for the very final time please.Its a hand folded request. I dont have enough money so as i can once again pay and ask question.Kindly answer and take me out from this paranoia.
I have taken so far 10 tests in 17 weeks and last test was again ECLIA test which was non reactive.When i asked pathelogist the numbers they told me only the antigen value that was 0.04.At 16th week post exposure the value of antigen was 0.01 but now 0.04.I dont understand why?Why is my values increasing? I have taken 10 different tests 7 times ECLIA,2 times DUO,1 time Tridot test and 1 time ELISA test.Kindly guide should i go for RNA/DNA PCR test as well?I dont have enough money to really afford it?
Kindly answer for this poor guy.Please Please answer!!!!!
Sorry once again for troubling you but i would really appreciate if you can answer for the very final time please.Its a hand folded request. I dont have enough money so as i can once again pay and ask question.Kindly answer and take me out from this paranoia.
I have taken so far 10 tests in 17 weeks and last test was again ECLIA test which was non reactive.When i asked pathelogist the numbers they told me only the antigen value that was 0.04.At 16th week post exposure the value of antigen was 0.01 but now 0.04.I dont understand why?Why is my values increasing? I have taken 10 different tests 7 times ECLIA,2 times DUO,1 time Tridot test and 1 time ELISA test.Kindly guide should i go for RNA/DNA PCR test as well?I dont have enough money to really afford it?
Kindly answer for this poor guy.Please Please answer!!!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You need to post your own questions and not hijack someone else's. Do not abuse the system - that will lead you to being banned.
please doctor kindly dont be harsh to me and answer. i have once again tested at 120 days mark by ECLIA test which came back non reactive. it was my 10th test in 4 months but my concern is persistent loose motions which are very frequent and also red rashes on shoulders and thighs which comes and goes.Kindly please answer for one final time
Regards
Regards
I just got my self tested again and i am at 16th week (107 days post exposure) and the test says like this (ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT IMMUNOASSAY)
SAMPLE TEST RESULT UNITS NORMAL RANGE
SERUM P24 Antigen 0.01 pg/ml neg :0.25
SERUM 1&2 Antibody 0.07 IU/ml neg :0.25
Kindly do let me know what does the result means.If antigen and antibody are not present since absence of HIV infection then why these numbers???.KIndly do let me know,its my 16th running week.Do i need further testing. I have tested 9 times in past 16 weeks time.Its a hell for me these past 3 and a half months.Please do revert..
SAMPLE TEST RESULT UNITS NORMAL RANGE
SERUM P24 Antigen 0.01 pg/ml neg :0.25
SERUM 1&2 Antibody 0.07 IU/ml neg :0.25
Kindly do let me know what does the result means.If antigen and antibody are not present since absence of HIV infection then why these numbers???.KIndly do let me know,its my 16th running week.Do i need further testing. I have tested 9 times in past 16 weeks time.Its a hell for me these past 3 and a half months.Please do revert..
My name is Sarah Jane Smith (***@****)
I am from Bristol, UK and I have to say that community here is very helpful in helping patients who deal with HIV and Aids. They have helped me a lot. If you need any resources, please let me know.
I am from Bristol, UK and I have to say that community here is very helpful in helping patients who deal with HIV and Aids. They have helped me a lot. If you need any resources, please let me know.
Yes Doctor.I will try to come out from this trap.By the way many thanks to you and Dr Sean.
Regards,
Regards,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thank you Vance and akumar....It is very clear what my colleague Sean has written and I agree entirely..anxiety is a key feature here for nitin and I don't think any more comment from us is going to be at all helpful. Nitin you need to take responsibility for the guilt and anxiety you feel and stop this constant questioning..i'm going to close this now. Please don't submit another post on it...you are abusing the Forum. Mervyn
Yes. I think the anxiety is the key factor here.
Read what Dr.Sean as written, you have your answers.
"In your case, the test has shown without doubt at all that you are HIV negative.
I do understand how anxious you are - trust me, I do understand that. But, I wont be coming back to this question again."
"In your case, the test has shown without doubt at all that you are HIV negative.
I do understand how anxious you are - trust me, I do understand that. But, I wont be coming back to this question again."
DOCTOR FOR THE VERY LAST TIME PLEASE!!!!!! Occasional neck pain and dizziness along with red dots on fore head still there more over my wife vaginal infection Can i say its nothing to worry atleast from HIV point of view.PLEASE DOCTOR KINDLY ANSWER FOR THE LAST TIME.I WONT TROUBLE YOU AGAIN
REGARDS,
NITIN
REGARDS,
NITIN
Dear Doctor,
Last question please on this forum.My wife and me have been intimated a couple of times in the past week and she is experiencing some vaginal discharge problems does this relates to some thing???Kindly be generous to answer my last question i wont ask any other questions trust me. We have met a gynaecologist and she said that its vaginal discharge and gave her medicines and besides these i have seen two tiny red bulging red spots in her chest as well.Do i need to worry for those she does not have any other problems.Kindly sir please answer one last time!!!
With Best Regards,
Nitin
Last question please on this forum.My wife and me have been intimated a couple of times in the past week and she is experiencing some vaginal discharge problems does this relates to some thing???Kindly be generous to answer my last question i wont ask any other questions trust me. We have met a gynaecologist and she said that its vaginal discharge and gave her medicines and besides these i have seen two tiny red bulging red spots in her chest as well.Do i need to worry for those she does not have any other problems.Kindly sir please answer one last time!!!
With Best Regards,
Nitin
Thanks Dr Sean.That it from my side as well.
I will move on now and trust me its my only last experimentation done!!! I will not only faithful to my wife my whole life but keep her happy as well!!!
Regards,
I will move on now and trust me its my only last experimentation done!!! I will not only faithful to my wife my whole life but keep her happy as well!!!
Regards,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello
Nitin
You are absolutely fine.
I have answered this question already:-
"""The reality for you is that although you were indeed very daft and had unprotected penetrative vaginal sex with a sex worker, the distinct possibility is that she was not infected and thus you were not exposed anyway. Even if you were, the fact is clearly demonstrated by the multitude of HIV tests you have had that you are not HIV positive"""
You ask a further question about the test itself. You have been tested with an HIV DUO test. This a fourth generation HIV test which looks for antibodies and also p24 antigen. P24 antigen is a protein produced by the HIV virus replicating. Taken together, the antibodies and the p24 antigen test produce a highly accurate testing method with accuracy levels of greater than 99.5% at only 28 days post exposure.
As time goes by the accuracy of the test increases.
In your case, the test has shown without doubt at all that you are HIV negative.
I do understand how anxious you are - trust me, I do understand that. But, I wont be coming back to this question again.
best wishes, Sean
Nitin
You are absolutely fine.
I have answered this question already:-
"""The reality for you is that although you were indeed very daft and had unprotected penetrative vaginal sex with a sex worker, the distinct possibility is that she was not infected and thus you were not exposed anyway. Even if you were, the fact is clearly demonstrated by the multitude of HIV tests you have had that you are not HIV positive"""
You ask a further question about the test itself. You have been tested with an HIV DUO test. This a fourth generation HIV test which looks for antibodies and also p24 antigen. P24 antigen is a protein produced by the HIV virus replicating. Taken together, the antibodies and the p24 antigen test produce a highly accurate testing method with accuracy levels of greater than 99.5% at only 28 days post exposure.
As time goes by the accuracy of the test increases.
In your case, the test has shown without doubt at all that you are HIV negative.
I do understand how anxious you are - trust me, I do understand that. But, I wont be coming back to this question again.
best wishes, Sean
Dear Dr Sean,
Waiting for your kind comments!!!
With Best Regards,
Waiting for your kind comments!!!
With Best Regards,
Your last three test are fully conclusive!!!
Any sort of test is reliable at 12 weeks+ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The 3rd generation is pretty accurate at 6 weeks and fully conclusive at 12 weeks. Just read few random threads and you will see.
Thanks expendable.But Dr Sean i wanted to have your say on this.The pathelogy told me that its third generation test while i have learned from the threads that if the test looks for both antigen and antibodies then its a fourth generation test,there is a communication gap or may be the pathelogy is not aware of the generations.Even the MD of the pathelogy is not aware of it.
I have taken eight test just to exclude any clerical mistakes or lab errors!!!!
Dr Sean kindly advice on my thread is ECLIA test reliable? I am also just worried of red spots occuring on my fore head and near jaw line,slight discomfort while opening the jaws. i am not experiencing any other symptoms though!!!Kindly advice Dr!!!Waiting anxiously for your reply!
With Best Regards,
I have taken eight test just to exclude any clerical mistakes or lab errors!!!!
Dr Sean kindly advice on my thread is ECLIA test reliable? I am also just worried of red spots occuring on my fore head and near jaw line,slight discomfort while opening the jaws. i am not experiencing any other symptoms though!!!Kindly advice Dr!!!Waiting anxiously for your reply!
With Best Regards,
Doctor Sean will come and his opinion will be same as mine. Standard antibodies tests and the other kinds of tests /DUO or PCR/ are able to detect infection at 12 weeks mark post exposure. So you are clear MAN!!! NO DOUBTS ABOUT IT!!!
Great comment doctor Sean. That parallel between mobile phones and tests is amazing. You make me laugh.
Dear Doctor ,
Thanks for the reply and sorry for not patient enough coz u could well understand my anxiety level.Sorry once again.Kindly favour me and reply once more time.How reliable are ECLIA test.I have taken them from a very reliable pathelogy here in my city.I have had repeated tests in that lab only of ECLIA and when i asked them they told me its a very sensitive test of 3rd Generation.They didnt told me how they work.But in report it is written HIV 1+2 Ag/Ab (HIV-1&2 Combi Assay)(Electro-Cheiluminenscene Immuno Assay ECLIA) Hiv-1 p24 Antigen & Antibodies to (HIV-1/2 Combi)-NON REACTIVE.What does really mean?Are they effective taken till 14 weeks.Can they detect the virus?
More over i am noticing some red tiny spots on my forehead ,one my nose and two below my ears which is making me worried.No other symptoms,i had dizziness which is gone now,ny neck pain has dissapered as if it was never there.Do this signifies something,No swollen nodes can be felt while touching?Some slight discomfort in groin area but not severe.These are the only symptoms right now.
Kindly help one more time and explain.Are these related to ARS or some thing?Kindly answer doctor one more time please!!!!!
Regards
Thanks for the reply and sorry for not patient enough coz u could well understand my anxiety level.Sorry once again.Kindly favour me and reply once more time.How reliable are ECLIA test.I have taken them from a very reliable pathelogy here in my city.I have had repeated tests in that lab only of ECLIA and when i asked them they told me its a very sensitive test of 3rd Generation.They didnt told me how they work.But in report it is written HIV 1+2 Ag/Ab (HIV-1&2 Combi Assay)(Electro-Cheiluminenscene Immuno Assay ECLIA) Hiv-1 p24 Antigen & Antibodies to (HIV-1/2 Combi)-NON REACTIVE.What does really mean?Are they effective taken till 14 weeks.Can they detect the virus?
More over i am noticing some red tiny spots on my forehead ,one my nose and two below my ears which is making me worried.No other symptoms,i had dizziness which is gone now,ny neck pain has dissapered as if it was never there.Do this signifies something,No swollen nodes can be felt while touching?Some slight discomfort in groin area but not severe.These are the only symptoms right now.
Kindly help one more time and explain.Are these related to ARS or some thing?Kindly answer doctor one more time please!!!!!
Regards
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Patience my friend is said to be a virtue! We undertake to answer questions within a 48 hour time frame wherever possible.
You have described your scenario and you have asked:-
"My questions are :1 Am i safe?Do i need further testing
2 Why testing is recommended till 6 months and who are those people which require testing till six months?"
The answer is yes, you are safe and you do not need further HIV testing. You are HIV negative.
The 6 month testing advice results from uncertainty regarding HIV tests through their development in the early 1980's to now in 2011.
Think of it a bit like mobile phones. I think I had my first mobile in the early 1990's. It was the size of a small brick, had a large aerial and didn't work terribly well.
Now I have a Blackberry Bold which is great, tiny, works very reliably where ever I am in the world and can do all sorts of extra things like camera; email; text; etc etc.
HIV tests are very similar. They have evolved massively over time and are much more reliable.
The reality for you is that although you were indeed very daft and had unprotected penetrative vaginal sex with a sex worker, the distinct possibility is that she was not infected and thus you were not exposed anyway. Even if you were, the fact is clearly demonstrated by the multitude of HIV tests you have had that you are not HIV positive.
very best regards, Sean
You have described your scenario and you have asked:-
"My questions are :1 Am i safe?Do i need further testing
2 Why testing is recommended till 6 months and who are those people which require testing till six months?"
The answer is yes, you are safe and you do not need further HIV testing. You are HIV negative.
The 6 month testing advice results from uncertainty regarding HIV tests through their development in the early 1980's to now in 2011.
Think of it a bit like mobile phones. I think I had my first mobile in the early 1990's. It was the size of a small brick, had a large aerial and didn't work terribly well.
Now I have a Blackberry Bold which is great, tiny, works very reliably where ever I am in the world and can do all sorts of extra things like camera; email; text; etc etc.
HIV tests are very similar. They have evolved massively over time and are much more reliable.
The reality for you is that although you were indeed very daft and had unprotected penetrative vaginal sex with a sex worker, the distinct possibility is that she was not infected and thus you were not exposed anyway. Even if you were, the fact is clearly demonstrated by the multitude of HIV tests you have had that you are not HIV positive.
very best regards, Sean
Dear Doctor Sean,
I have already paid for my question.Kindly answer.My whole life and family is in disarray.I just holding my laptop and checking your answers at 3 am in the morning!!!!!.Good Sleep is now strange to me...Kindly help.
Regards,
I have already paid for my question.Kindly answer.My whole life and family is in disarray.I just holding my laptop and checking your answers at 3 am in the morning!!!!!.Good Sleep is now strange to me...Kindly help.
Regards,
Dear Doctor,
Kindly answer.What should i do??
Regards,
Kindly answer.What should i do??
Regards,
You are reading content posted in the HIV - International Forum
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
