How to interpret my HIV test results

[AllTimeIdiot]

I took an HIV test at the doctor's office last week, 44 days after the potential exposure. I received my rest results today. I was surprised at the lack of any figures provided. I live in Germany, and I realize the standard of medical care may not be up to par with the United States. Here's a translation of the letter...

Materials examined: Serum
HIV 1/2 Combo (Roche)
Anti-HIV-ECLIA (4th generation) for a simultaneous qualitative detection of HIV 1/2 antibodies and of HIV p24 antigens
Result: Negative
Reference Range: Negative

That's all. No mention of blood cell counts. Does this seem a bit strange?

Also, what does a negative reference range mean?

[mike_no]

To answer your question specifically,  that number is not called as "blood cell count". It is called as 'index value' or 'signal to cut off ratio'.

If that number is less than 1.0 the result is negative, should it be above 1.0 the result is positive. Your index value was certainly less than 1.0. Hence, your lab declared it Negative because that's what you paid to know.

Now,  think rationally, you are doubting your test result.  As my fellow posters had clearly told you that you didn't have a risk,  yet you tested.  Now you're obsessing and doing "What-ifs" on your test result,  where would you stop at?  HIV is not your problem,  obsessing about it is.  Seek help for it.  

This forum can not help you any futher,  there is nothing more desired to be spoken.

[mike_no]

Readings below 1.0 is negative reference range,  as explained above.

[AllTimeIdiot]

Thanks. What about testing for other STDs. I haven't had discernible any symptoms.

[GuitarRox]

The important thing to focus on is that the result is negative.  You took a 4th generation test after the point in which it would be conclusive and the result is negative.  You need to trust that result as you do not have HIV.  

[AnxiousNoMore]

He was told in Dec that he had zero risk.

[GuitarRox]

Then I just reminded him.  My goal is to answer people's posts in a respectful way so that they can internalize the information.  Re explaining risks will hopefully help the poster.

[Chima7]

Different tests and different labs present the information differently. When I took my HIV test all it said was Result: Non reactive. That's it. And that's all I needed to know to Move On and not worry about it anymore. I strongly suggest you do the same, as there's nothing else for you to be concerned about regarding HIV.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Not sure why you are asking for advice here again, when you didn't believe anything you were told before. Your anxiety is a bit of a mental illness at this point, so consider therapy. You should ask the doctor to interpret your test, although any doc that gives you an hiv test for no risk might not be great at explaining test results either. But to make it short, you are negative and need to move on from hiv, instead of wondering about blood counts and other irrelevancies.

[AllTimeIdiot]

I never challenged any of the information provided in the responses to my other questions.  What makes you think otherwise?  I'm under the impression that other people who have taken an HIV test receive more detailed results.  Because I did not, I'm trying to get an opinion about whether the test I took is accurate and conclusive.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Why did you test and what did you think the test would look for? Here is the old advice "you can't get HIV from oral no matter what circumstances you had during your encounter. "