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Confusion over HIV Testing Window
My point here lies in paragraph 3 as numbered below:
This excerpt was taken from the Sans Francisco Aids foundation site and updated on 6/5/2008.
http://www.sfaf.org/aids101/hiv_testing.html
Accuracy of Antibody Tests
1. Antibody tests are extremely accurate, whether receiving a rapid test or a more traditional ELISA. Rapid test, for example, have an accuracy rate exceeding 99%. However, positive results from a rapid or ELISA test must be confirmed by another test to ensure that a person is HIV-positive.
2. The accuracy of a medical test is a combination of two factors: sensitivity and specificity. The ELISA is extremely sensitive (about 99.5%), which means it will detect very small quantities of HIV antibody. This high sensitivity reduces the odds of reporting a "false negative" when HIV antibodies are present.
3. Assuming you are being tested beyond the six month "window period" and have not engaged in activities that put you at risk for HIV, if the ELISA is "negative," there is virtually no chance you have HIV.
I believe this organisation is highly advance in HIV due to historical reasons tie to HIV/AIDs. Now if this oganisation is saying in paragraph 3 that you can only be certain if tested beyond 6 months.
I think there is no clear stats to show that people who were actually infected tested positive at the 3 months peiod. A lot of people do not know when they were infected. I don't know how some of these organisations came up with this 3 months window period. I think there is a lot of doubt over the 3 window period because some reputable Aids organisation are not sure as well. Every organisation is not saying 3 months definite.
The problem here is that you could still be infected and pass this virus onto your partner and all that would be said is that probably he/she tested within the window period and did not say the truth about last exposure. Even if the testing center blunders or if the window period is not applicable in your case but you don't come under one of those conditions that would put you in the 6 months window, it is the patient's word against the testing center's word. You end up destroying your partner and family.
I tested negative at 18 weeks post an unprotected exposure (June 17, 2008) in a high risk country during holiday. I came down at week 5 post exposure with a very low grade fever for 5 days (mon to fri). The weekend was all fine. The following week monday, I experienced intese aches and pains which radiated from the sides of my neck just above my ears down to my toes. Every joint pained me as if I was experiencing paralysis because I could not lift even a book. I thought I was experiencing meningitis. This lasted for about 4 days.
Today I have been diagnosed with focullitis on my arms which started appearing 6 months post exposure but took less notice because after all I was negative from my test. After testing I was glad I did and proceeded to being intimate with my wife. After 2 months of intimacy, my wife came down with flu-like symptons, unlcer around her vagina, and huge pus-filled bumps on her face which took months to clear. Since then she has been very tired and today went to see the Doctor. The doctor has asked that tests be run to find the cause of her tireness.
I am back to zero and everything seems to be playing in my head and whether I have been let let down by the testing center either by blunder or assuring me that my 18 weeks post exposure was conclusive.
I'll definitely be going back to test but this time after destroying my wife of 13 years which I tried for 4 months to avoid.
I currently reside in the UK and the test was done at a GUM clinic using ELISA with blood taken from my arm which was sent away for a week.
This excerpt was taken from the Sans Francisco Aids foundation site and updated on 6/5/2008.
http://www.sfaf.org/aids101/hiv_testing.html
Accuracy of Antibody Tests
1. Antibody tests are extremely accurate, whether receiving a rapid test or a more traditional ELISA. Rapid test, for example, have an accuracy rate exceeding 99%. However, positive results from a rapid or ELISA test must be confirmed by another test to ensure that a person is HIV-positive.
2. The accuracy of a medical test is a combination of two factors: sensitivity and specificity. The ELISA is extremely sensitive (about 99.5%), which means it will detect very small quantities of HIV antibody. This high sensitivity reduces the odds of reporting a "false negative" when HIV antibodies are present.
3. Assuming you are being tested beyond the six month "window period" and have not engaged in activities that put you at risk for HIV, if the ELISA is "negative," there is virtually no chance you have HIV.
I believe this organisation is highly advance in HIV due to historical reasons tie to HIV/AIDs. Now if this oganisation is saying in paragraph 3 that you can only be certain if tested beyond 6 months.
I think there is no clear stats to show that people who were actually infected tested positive at the 3 months peiod. A lot of people do not know when they were infected. I don't know how some of these organisations came up with this 3 months window period. I think there is a lot of doubt over the 3 window period because some reputable Aids organisation are not sure as well. Every organisation is not saying 3 months definite.
The problem here is that you could still be infected and pass this virus onto your partner and all that would be said is that probably he/she tested within the window period and did not say the truth about last exposure. Even if the testing center blunders or if the window period is not applicable in your case but you don't come under one of those conditions that would put you in the 6 months window, it is the patient's word against the testing center's word. You end up destroying your partner and family.
I tested negative at 18 weeks post an unprotected exposure (June 17, 2008) in a high risk country during holiday. I came down at week 5 post exposure with a very low grade fever for 5 days (mon to fri). The weekend was all fine. The following week monday, I experienced intese aches and pains which radiated from the sides of my neck just above my ears down to my toes. Every joint pained me as if I was experiencing paralysis because I could not lift even a book. I thought I was experiencing meningitis. This lasted for about 4 days.
Today I have been diagnosed with focullitis on my arms which started appearing 6 months post exposure but took less notice because after all I was negative from my test. After testing I was glad I did and proceeded to being intimate with my wife. After 2 months of intimacy, my wife came down with flu-like symptons, unlcer around her vagina, and huge pus-filled bumps on her face which took months to clear. Since then she has been very tired and today went to see the Doctor. The doctor has asked that tests be run to find the cause of her tireness.
I am back to zero and everything seems to be playing in my head and whether I have been let let down by the testing center either by blunder or assuring me that my 18 weeks post exposure was conclusive.
I'll definitely be going back to test but this time after destroying my wife of 13 years which I tried for 4 months to avoid.
I currently reside in the UK and the test was done at a GUM clinic using ELISA with blood taken from my arm which was sent away for a week.
Hi Chris, Palmbeach,
1st) palm beach one article you posted is already 3 years old and long time ago 6 months tests were needed but now 3 months are accurate (my specialist said taht too).
2nd) if u get a negative with a rapid test, elisa at 3 months then taht's it..conclusive , at less tahn taht they will ak you to come again.
If you get positive at any time further tests wil be made.
One more thing if you were positive and they didn't tell you imagine how many people you could harm and then you can always blame them back...they have to give you a lecture and coucelling.
Though teh stress ya it ruined me now I suffer from otehr things.....but anyway all take care.
See ya,
FWK
1st) palm beach one article you posted is already 3 years old and long time ago 6 months tests were needed but now 3 months are accurate (my specialist said taht too).
2nd) if u get a negative with a rapid test, elisa at 3 months then taht's it..conclusive , at less tahn taht they will ak you to come again.
If you get positive at any time further tests wil be made.
One more thing if you were positive and they didn't tell you imagine how many people you could harm and then you can always blame them back...they have to give you a lecture and coucelling.
Though teh stress ya it ruined me now I suffer from otehr things.....but anyway all take care.
See ya,
FWK
The issue here is not about being comfortable. The issue is preciseness. Science should be exact and not change from person to person. Everyone believes that HIV leads to Aids. That has been confirmed scientifically. So why don't every medical personnel or organisation believe that the 3 months window is definite.
People normally have doubts when the symptoms they have experienced is unusual, tie in with all the ars symptoms, timeline of ars window and in my case the same unusual symptoms happened to my wife after we commenced sex. This is what creates doubt.
The fear is even compounded with the fact that medical personnels and aids organisations are not even sure or have doubts about the window period.
Can someone post a url where the manufacturer of the test stated that 3 months is definite.
Thanks.
People normally have doubts when the symptoms they have experienced is unusual, tie in with all the ars symptoms, timeline of ars window and in my case the same unusual symptoms happened to my wife after we commenced sex. This is what creates doubt.
The fear is even compounded with the fact that medical personnels and aids organisations are not even sure or have doubts about the window period.
Can someone post a url where the manufacturer of the test stated that 3 months is definite.
Thanks.
It's a result of misinformation, and tests becoming more sensitive faster than old beliefs change.
You certainly don't have HIV if you had a negative at 4.5 months. End of story...
You certainly don't have HIV if you had a negative at 4.5 months. End of story...
doctors who advise testing later than 3 months are NOT up to date on the latest information..and believe me, there are alot of them.
according to the cdc, fda, and the manufacturers of the tests...3 MONTHS IS CONCLUSIVE...and there is NO reason to test out any longer.
according to the cdc, fda, and the manufacturers of the tests...3 MONTHS IS CONCLUSIVE...and there is NO reason to test out any longer.
Chris many people on this form seem to be the experts yet you need to do what you feel most comfortable with doing. If you feel comfortable with with testing at 3 months then do not test anymore but if you still concerned test at 6 months. Many people here can only advise you what to do. Many doctors have many different answers to the testing window period. The doctors on the form who are very good doctors feel that 3 months is conclusive yet many other good doctors feel that 6 months is conclusive then other doctors feel 9 months is conclusive. The bottom line what do you feel comfortable in doing? Just dont let the stress of this ruin your life if you feel stressed or have anxiety
talk to someone.
Thank you for yourtime
Sincerely,
PalmBeach
talk to someone.
Thank you for yourtime
Sincerely,
PalmBeach
you have a four and a half month negative test...move on...you are conclusively negative
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