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test sensitivity

Hi everyone,

I'm probably not the only one to be puzzled by the sensitivity of antibody tests. So I thought I'd ask you for your advice.

If I tested with an Insti with a sensitivity of 99.6% at 3months post latest risk would that mean (assuming lots of high risk encounters) my chances of having hiv are 1 in 250. Therefore, would there be any benefit of testing at 6 months? Would my chances of having hiv still be 1 in 250 or would they reduce?
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Avatar universal
Ask the manufacture of the test. The 3 month guideline is set by the manufacture and approved in America by the FDA and backed by the CDC.

Nothing is going to be 100% in a universe when 100% can't truly be achieved. In this case that 99.6% refers to the people who are normal regular people without other issues that compromise the immue system.
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Avatar universal
I'm actually asking on behalf of a friend who wanted some advice. Their high risk scenario were multiple exposures to a person who didn't realise they were HIV positive.

They were tested at 3 months with an Insti at a private clinic in the UK.  So how can a test be considered conclusive in this scenario when the published sensitivity (as stated in the test insert) of the test is 99.6%? I say in this scenario because it is very high risk.
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Avatar universal
Your test is conclusive. PERIOD.
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Avatar universal
I know that is the standard guidelines but, what I'm saying is if the published sensitivity of the test is 99.6% then for someone in a very high risk scenario their chance of having a false negative is 1 in 250. Which campared to someone in a low risk scenario is high. So what happens if they then test at 6 months? Does this make any difference to the 1 in 250 chance?
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Avatar universal
A 3 month antibody test is conclusive.
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