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HIV testing question.

When someone here asks about testing and false negatives yous shrug it off saying only happens between the window period. According to this website http://www.savinglivesuk.com/?page_id=38 it says that 3 out of 1000 people get a false negative even after 3 months.  Why is this? Poor diagnostics? Is it due to the individual? Or is it the test kits themselfs that just don't work properly ?
What's your thoughts on this? If this happens why are people not told to get a second one as they could in theory be that 1-3 out of 1000?

A false negative test result occurs when the test shows negative and the person is really HIV positive. This is very rare and usually occurs during the window period when people are newly infected but the test can’t pick up the infection. As with all diagnostic tests, there will always be a small margin of error. With antibody tests only 0.3% of tests (3 tests in every 1000) will be a false negative after 3 months. With fourth generation tests it is much lower than this at 3 months. If you are worried you should have a second test. This will eliminate the possibility of a false negative result.

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Avatar universal
I don't have any idea what you are looking for. You don't have HIV. Good luck in finding what you are looking for.
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Avatar universal
"Where can I find scientific true info on HIV?"

www.medhelp.org


It doesn't seem to sink in now does it?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok thanks.  In the UK the NHS uk 4th gen as there standard test. I have a small additional question. Where can I find scientific true info on HIV?

I seen someone mention a website awhile ago it was a moderator I can't for the life of me remember it.
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Avatar universal
They could use a DUO and at 3 months it would be conclusive.
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Avatar universal
No. I did not say that...the antigen part is useless after 4 weeks.
The antibody portion is and always will be the determinant factor. And antibodies will always be detectable  except in circumstances that teak pointed out above.
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Avatar universal
Is what hangon51 saying true? When a country used 4th gen as a standard test they are effectively giving people the wrong results as they should of just used an antibody test ?
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Avatar universal
Are you saying the antibody part of a duo is pointless even after 12 weeks and won't prove status?
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Avatar universal
Your exposure is far more valuable in determining your need for a test.
However...you seem fixated on test accuracy.
It's a legitimate concern.

So here it goes...

Your question is of an academic nature. The evaluations of tests and their accuracies is a complicated mathematical exercise in statistics.
Tests are man made and administered and evaluated by human beings.
HIV tests available today are amongst the most accurate of all medical tests.
99% of false negatives are due to getting them done too early.
Also, don't forget that a large cross section of the population (with varying levels of cognitive development..i.e intelligence) being tested may not understand or even  lie about on the questionnaires they are asked to fill out.
The bottom line you need to remember is that after 12 weeks, if you take a simple antibody test and said test comes out negative, you do not have HIV. I cannot comment on the DUO test as it is , in my humble opinion a waste of time and too expensive for the purpose of establishing a true negative status!
It is, however a great test for early detection,if taken at the appropriate time.... if that is what you're after. But early detection is not a conclusive negative.
The garden variety antibody test is still the only one that will give you peace of mind after 12 weeks of your potential exposure.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You a chronic IV drug user?
You taking antirejection drugs for an organ transplant?
You in the hospital more than you are out due to an impaired immune system?
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Avatar universal
Yes I had conclusive test in practise. What about the 1-3 three?
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Avatar universal
You can obtain your conclusive test result 3 months post exposure.
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Avatar universal
Yes vaginal sex. Had swollen glands, loss appetite, weightless, sickness, diahrea etc etc 5-6 weeks after it. Also I contracted chlamydia from the person. Tested negative with the conclusive timeline. I'm wondering about the info about. Do they just say negative and let you loose on the public when you could be the 1-3?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Did you have a possible exposure?
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Avatar universal
Do they do the test put it down as non reactive and then sending you off hoping your not the 1-3 continuing too infect people?..
Helpful - 0
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