Aa
Contamination question
About to test after 14 weeks of waiting for unprotected sex with a women. When taking a test, whether it be home test, dr visit etc. what happens if something interferres with the blood draw or chemical gets in the way. Will the test just not test right or reject it or will it screw up and make the test not reliable. Or say the alchol wipe left too much alchol residue on the finger or arm before draw.
Thoughts...im trying to figure this out because i do have a home kit and intend to use it since i spent the money, i just dont know what can contaminate the sample ( it speaks of this in the instructions)
Thoughts...im trying to figure this out because i do have a home kit and intend to use it since i spent the money, i just dont know what can contaminate the sample ( it speaks of this in the instructions)
Last question. Again thanks for the answers nursegirl.... Is this Home access test express good compared to blood drawn test at the dr's. I seem to hear it being on par with it.
so the touching of the alochol wipe in the trash serves no differnce. I mean when someone things of scientific testing it makes one wonder what factors effect the test results. In my eyes now i think to myself " if the wipe i threw in the trash touched something that was bad and now i wiped it on my finger from the alocohol wipe will that taint the sample" I dont know any of this, sorry for the worry people. I just want to be sure i did everything right.
The alcohol serves to clean the skin to prevent any kind of infection. Soap and water works just as well, but the alcohol is a little added measure of protection, and since a lot of people aren't real great at handwashing, it ensures the skin is cleaned. You could technically test without cleaning the skin at all, and the test wouldn't be affected...you would just place yourself at risk for an infection.
Not allowing the alcohol to dry is not going to affect the test results enough to make them invalid. That's more for tests like blood sugar. Not drying the alcohol may make the glucose level slightly higher or lower than the actual result. But again, not enough to be a huge concern, even with that kind of test.
You have to keep in mind that these tests are manufactured as such to expect a certain amount of human error. They are not that "precise" that one small error would void the whole test, or change the results. Vance put it into perspective...unless you're talking you spilled an entire bottle of alcohol on the test, or microwaved it with your soup, you have nothing to worry about.
Your testing procedure was just fine. You can be confident in the results. Your worries are anxiety based.
Not allowing the alcohol to dry is not going to affect the test results enough to make them invalid. That's more for tests like blood sugar. Not drying the alcohol may make the glucose level slightly higher or lower than the actual result. But again, not enough to be a huge concern, even with that kind of test.
You have to keep in mind that these tests are manufactured as such to expect a certain amount of human error. They are not that "precise" that one small error would void the whole test, or change the results. Vance put it into perspective...unless you're talking you spilled an entire bottle of alcohol on the test, or microwaved it with your soup, you have nothing to worry about.
Your testing procedure was just fine. You can be confident in the results. Your worries are anxiety based.
Well its something i dont know any they dont explain. Its one thing to get results and it be negative and not know if that is accurate or not, its another thing to get an invalid result. Im not sure which would occur.
What use does the alcohol serve with any needle/blood draw? It indicates on the directions to wash your hand and dry ....then use the alcohol wipe. what purpose does it serve? Just for bacteria entering the body?
Also on the directions it indicates to let the sample spot dry for 30 min. Is there a particular reason for this?
Thanks for the very well put responses it is much appreciated, the people over the phone are not much help to be honest. I did take the test BTW. I washed my hands, dryed, used alcohol wipe, did puncture. The first punture didnt produce enough blood so i had to use the second one but got the alcohol wipe back out of the trash can in the bathroom to wipe the other hand, was that ok? It was just sitting ontop of tissue and the trash liner in a wicker open basket. I then wiped the other hand like the other one and proceeded as normal. (i threw it away because i thought i could get enough blood from one puncture :P)
I let it dry about 28 min or so, it looked dry...everything else seemed normal though.
What use does the alcohol serve with any needle/blood draw? It indicates on the directions to wash your hand and dry ....then use the alcohol wipe. what purpose does it serve? Just for bacteria entering the body?
Also on the directions it indicates to let the sample spot dry for 30 min. Is there a particular reason for this?
Thanks for the very well put responses it is much appreciated, the people over the phone are not much help to be honest. I did take the test BTW. I washed my hands, dryed, used alcohol wipe, did puncture. The first punture didnt produce enough blood so i had to use the second one but got the alcohol wipe back out of the trash can in the bathroom to wipe the other hand, was that ok? It was just sitting ontop of tissue and the trash liner in a wicker open basket. I then wiped the other hand like the other one and proceeded as normal. (i threw it away because i thought i could get enough blood from one puncture :P)
I let it dry about 28 min or so, it looked dry...everything else seemed normal though.
I do believe the tests would generate a result indicating there was a problem with the testing process. Most tests have a "control" which enables the processor to see that the test was run properly.
That being said, with HIV tests, I'm not 100% sure.
This is kind of one of those irrational fears anyway, just like people worrying about a nurse reusing a needle, etc. The chances that a test would be contaminated to the point that it would void the results would be pretty slim.
If you're that concerned about it, I guess you'll have to retest.
That being said, with HIV tests, I'm not 100% sure.
This is kind of one of those irrational fears anyway, just like people worrying about a nurse reusing a needle, etc. The chances that a test would be contaminated to the point that it would void the results would be pretty slim.
If you're that concerned about it, I guess you'll have to retest.
But what would a contamination do to a blood sample, does it make a sample give a neg reading and might be invalid or will it not be able to test etc?
I found another thread on this before i posted and it was never ansered. Thanks for answering guys
I found another thread on this before i posted and it was never ansered. Thanks for answering guys
As implied in my last reply, the home test simply isn't as sensitive to contamination as you're making it out to be The antibodies would hold up, barring some extreme chemical exposure that could cause denaturation. An alcohol wipe isn't going to contaminate the sample at all- the alcohol will simply volatilize. Just collect the sample according to the directions and don't worry about it.
What would happen if it did get contaminated, how would a test turn out?
But what is sufficient to cause a contamination. Im not sure how to take the directions.
But what is sufficient to cause a contamination. Im not sure how to take the directions.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
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.
