3 months post exposure HIV test is the only way to get a conclusive result. Tests will give you results such as Negative or Non reactive
I guess I should add a 4th question then:
4. Why would a PCR test that comes back as negative need to be followed up by an antibody test months later? Is that a 1% thing?
If I can get 99% confirmation at two weeks, the $700 is worth every penny.
A PCR is not a standalone test and must always be followed up by an antibody test at 12 weeks post-exposure for a 100% conclusive result.You are much better of have a DUO test at 4 weeks that looks for both p24 antigen and antibodies,that,s when the p24antigen peaks and is most accurate,around 99%.Even if your PCR was undetectable it doesn,t mean you are not infected,you would require testing at 12 weeks to totally rule out infection.
I live in the US so the DUO test is not available. Is there a site that shows testing locations for other 4th generation assays in the US? I don't care what the cost would be...
You need to find out where the DUO might be avaliable,I know that you have them in the USA,just don,t know where,what cities,etc.Have a look on line and see which clinics are offering them.
as of my research i found the below tests from Labcorp.com
083824 Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1/O/2 (HIV-1/O/2) Antibodies, Preliminary Test With Confirmation
005462 Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) Antibody, Confirmation Western Blot (p24 test)
083850 Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1/O/2 (HIV-1/O/2) Antibody With Reflex to Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT).
hope for the best. good luck
If I go to LabCorp and do the regular antibody test and the western blot at 4 weeks, would that be the same result as a DUO test? Since theoretically I would be doing regular antibody and P24 test? Or is the western blot not checking for the p24 antigen (it's confusing based on the description)?