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Avatar universal

any need to retest?

my Question is:
will a hiv positive person ALWAYS test positive after his window period, by using rapid test cassettes? for example, if he tests positive at 3 months after exposure, will he also test positive 4, 5 ,6 or more months after exposure?
or are there any times that hiv antibody levels decrease so that undetectable by tests?
i can easily access rapid test devices (because of my job),,,after a low risk exposure (cunnilingus on a bloody vagina) ,i tested myself for several times during 7 months after that exposure, all negative,,,but i remember that when i wanted to throw away one of my negative tests wich i did 3 months after exposure, i noticed a brown (not red) line in test region, i was shocked, i saw this line more than 2 hours after the test was done,,,i should add we should read the result 20 minutes after the test (NOT MORE) according to the manufacturer,  but i am still concerned,,,of course i tested maybe 40 times all negative after that one,  but still worried, is it possible that that test was positive and all my other tests were falase negatives?
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Avatar universal
thanks,
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
YES. YOU DON'T HAVE HIV AND YOUR 40+ TESTS PROVE IT.
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Avatar universal
i've already heard hiv ANTIGENS will be shown at only 4 weeks post exposure and then decrease to undetectable levels, i wanted to know is this the same about the ANTIBODIES?  and you say it is not the same, thanks,
but please answer my last question: does the rapid test result have the same value as elisa results?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok, you have been answered several times...it's time to move on from this. Nothing more we can say other then you don't have HIV.
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Avatar universal
i should add that test was also negative in the permitted 20 minutes time, but the brown line appeared later in test region,,,can this be an error by rapid test casstte? the manufacturer says we should not interpret the result after the 20 minute time,
so you say if someone tests positive by western blot, then he will always test positive after that time even by elisa or rapid tests, is this true?
what should i do?, help please,
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Avatar universal
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Avatar universal
You don't have HIV based on tests. If you test from a no risk situation (which you did) and test 40+ times there is a possibility of a false positive.
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Avatar universal
so should i do a western blot because of that positive ((if really positive because being read more than 20 minutes after test)) tests despite all my other rapid test negative results?  or can i rely on my other negative results i got before and after that test (all by rapid tests)?
Helpful - 0
1563685 tn?1310402354
A negative beyond 3 month post-exposure won't be a false negative, unless the tested is on chemotherapy, on meds after organ transplant, or a heavy IV drug user, any of which makes it to 6 months post-exposure.
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Avatar universal
If you have a confirmed positive result with a Western Blot then you will always test positive. 8 months, 5 years, 10 years...doesn't matter.

A test at 3 months is conclusive. You don't have HIV.
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