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Testing negative at 22 days?
Hey everyone, would a 4th generation HIV blood test at 22 days post exposure be considered conclusively negative? I had a low risk exposure and freaked myself out, wondering if the negative result at 22 days is enough to let me move on with my life.
What was your exposure to begin with?
Even though some people (like Dr. Tan) are starting to see a test as conclusive at 21 days. Most of the community believes that a test starts to be of significant value at 28 days and is conclusive at 42 days (6 weeks). Those numbers are only valid for duo (Ab/Ag) test.
Even though some people (like Dr. Tan) are starting to see a test as conclusive at 21 days. Most of the community believes that a test starts to be of significant value at 28 days and is conclusive at 42 days (6 weeks). Those numbers are only valid for duo (Ab/Ag) test.
6 Comments
Protected anal sex with a high risk individual. I know protected sex is a definite non-risk, but anxiety is hard to deal with.
If the condom did not fail, you were not at risk. And what do you consider a high risk individual?
very promiscious gay male, he seemed annoyed when I stopped to put on a condom. I was the insertive partner
"When I stopped to put on a condom"?!?! So, did you have protected or not protected anal sex?
HIV does not care about the person, their origin or their occupation. What matters is the act. If you have protected sex and you used the condom properly, you are not at risk.
If at a certain point you had unprotected anal/vaginal sex, then my original answer still holds...
HIV does not care about the person, their origin or their occupation. What matters is the act. If you have protected sex and you used the condom properly, you are not at risk.
If at a certain point you had unprotected anal/vaginal sex, then my original answer still holds...
It was protected and the condom did not fail, but anxiety about the incident has been driving me crazy. Thanks for your help and reassurance! From a more theoretical standpoint my question about HIV testing still stands
As explained, a 21 days is already a good indication and it should already catch 80-90% of the infections. Is it conclusive, no? Not according to the CDC and most experts.
A lot of the experts agree that a 28 days duo test is conclusive and the CDC says that a 42 days duo test is conclusive. The CDC has always been known to be more conservative. Most specialists that were on those forums before, including Dr. Handsfield, believe that a 28 days duo test was conclusive and that no further testing was necessary.
As I am not a doctor, I will simply refer you to the recommendation of the CDC which is 42 days.
A lot of the experts agree that a 28 days duo test is conclusive and the CDC says that a 42 days duo test is conclusive. The CDC has always been known to be more conservative. Most specialists that were on those forums before, including Dr. Handsfield, believe that a 28 days duo test was conclusive and that no further testing was necessary.
As I am not a doctor, I will simply refer you to the recommendation of the CDC which is 42 days.
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