Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
April 02, 2024, 05:35:26 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37617
  • Latest: NChio
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772996
  • Total Topics: 66312
  • Online Today: 225
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 209
Total: 209

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Welcome to Do I Have HIV?

Welcome to the "Do I Have HIV?" POZ forum.

This special section of the POZ forum is for individuals who have concerns about whether or not they are HIV positive. Individuals are permitted to post up to three questions or responses in this forum.

Ongoing participation in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum (posting more than three questions or responses) requires a paid subscription, with secure payments made via PayPal.

A seven-day subscription is $9.99, a 30-day subscription is $14.99 and a 90-day subscription is $24.99.

Anyone who needs to post more than three messages in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum -- including past, present and future POZ Forums members -- will need to subscribe, with secure payments made via PayPal.

There is no charge to read threads in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum, nor will there be a charge for participating in any of the other POZ forums. In addition, the POZ Basics "HIV Transmission and Risks" and "HIV Testing" basics, will remain accessible to all.

NOTE: HIV testing questions will still need to be posted in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum; attempts to post HIV symptoms or testing questions in any other forums will be considered violations of our rules of membership and subject to time-outs and permanent bans.

To learn how to upgrade your Forums account to participate beyond three posts in the "Do I Have HIV?" Forum, please click here.

Thank you for your understanding and future support of the best online support service for people living with, affected by and at risk for HIV.

Author Topic: Different window periods in UK?  (Read 17664 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline john123

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Different window periods in UK?
« on: June 14, 2006, 04:43:56 am »
Hello guys,

I've  read on a United Nations webpage (United Nations Development Programme - Poland) a misleading information.

They claim that: IV gen tests are accuarte at 2 weeks and other antibody tests are accurate at 6 weeks. However I have never found such information from any other official sources.

I am affraid because people started quoting this info in different Polish hiv forums.

I know you guys publish your window period based on the CDC which is the most conservative HIV institutin in the world, but what do you think of the UNPD in Poland statement? Should it be quoted or is it just someone's mistake and I should contact them to change it?

Thanks.

Offline RapidRod

  • Member
  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2006, 04:48:21 am »
I would say that you need to do some more checking up on it. I doubt very much if a test less than 6 weeks is reliable.

Offline john123

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2006, 04:52:59 am »
Certainly, I doubt that a test at 6 weeks is reliable according to a 12/13 week window period.

Are we looking at a window period change to 6 weeks or is it just someone's mistake I shoudl point out by calling them?

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2006, 04:53:54 am »
I agree with Roddles. As I understand it 4th Generation tests (such as those used the US state of Masachussetts) are considered reliable at 6 weeks not 2 weeks.

I would suggest to WW's who find this information discomforting that they not worry. Follow the advice given here at AIDSMEDS (antibody tests are accurate 12-13 weeks from the date of an incident) and you'll be fine.

MtD

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2006, 06:41:01 am »
John,

I can't help but wonder if you mis-read the information. Could you please supply the URL link? Thanks.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline john123

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2006, 08:47:53 am »
Sure, it's in Polish though. They have an English version of the site which does not work.

Here is the link:

http://www.undp.org.pl/hiv-aids/pomoc.php

The translation of the most important paragraph:

Jeśli Twoje obawy dotyczą przeszłych zachowań, możesz przeprowadzić tzw. test przesiewowy, skuteczny po 6 tygodniach od momentu potencjalnego zakażenia. Jeśli sytuacja dotyczy niedawnej ekspozycji, można zrobić bardziej czuły test DUO lub COMBO już po 2 tygodniach od zdarzenia.

ENGLISH VERSION:

If you are afraid of becoming infected in the past, you can do a standard test (elisa) which is reliable after 6 weeks from the moment of infection or a more precise DUO / COMBO test reliable at 2 weeks after the infection.

Cheers


Offline freshair

  • Member
  • Posts: 12
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #6 on: June 15, 2006, 02:19:22 am »
The doctor at medhelp.org (H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Senior Health Research Leader at the Battelle Center for Public Health Research and Evaluation, and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Center of AIDS and STD, University of Washington) has this to say about the window period:   

Modern HIV blood tests can become positive as few as 10 days after infection and are positive in ~95% of infected persons within 3-4 weeks, reaching ~100% by 6 weeks.

Just do a search on medhep.org for "time to positive hiv test"
you do not need to leave your room. remain sitting at your table and listen. do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still, and solitary. the world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstacy at your feet. -- kafka

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #7 on: June 15, 2006, 05:19:12 am »
Quote
If you are afraid of becoming infected in the past, you can do a standard test (elisa) which is reliable after 6 weeks from the moment of infection or a more precise DUO / COMBO test reliable at 2 weeks after the infection.

John,

OK, I see the problem here. It is true that the combo test can begin to pick up hiv infection from two weeks - and perhaps they mean a positive result at this time would be reliable. HOWEVER - reliable is NOT the same thing as conclusive In general, a negative result is NOT conclusive until the 12-13 week mark.

A negative result with a combo test would be a very, very good sign at two weeks, but by no means conclusive. But they don't say that it would be, do they.

It's a matter of semantics and perhaps it could have been worded better - but it is basically correct.

And by the way. In my own opinion, one of these combo tests, which uses all the latest technology, is pretty much conclusive at six weeks. But, until such time as we can be absolutely certain that 100% of the people who are testing for hiv are testing using the latest test kit available, we will have to stick to the 12-13 week window period for a reliable, conclusive negative result.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline john123

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2007, 07:40:07 am »
I was told to write it in my last thread so I moved it here:



Hi.

I started a new relationship with a girl. We both tested negative before having unprotected sex (HIV1/HIV2 antibody)

However she told me recently that she had been in a relationship with a cameroon guy before and was having unprotected sex with him.

I am very anxious now about subtype O. I live in Euorpe where cases of this subtype were identified (IE France, Nowway etc).

I cannot find any information what kind of test I can take to check for HIV subtype O.

Can anyone help me with his / her expertise? Does test for subtype O exist? What can I do?

This really bugs me.

Many thanks.

Best regards

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2007, 07:44:33 am »
john,

Thanks for returning to your original thread. I'll delete the other one.

As long as your girlfriend tested negative at three months past the last unprotected incident with the man from Cameroon, then she is conclusively hiv negative and does not need further testing. You don't need to start worrying about different types of hiv, if she were infected, the test would pick it up.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline john123

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2007, 07:52:47 am »
Thanks Ann,

The problem is that I live in Euorpe where we do have O strains as opposoed to the US. As far as I read there were numerous O type infection in France for example.

Bearing in mind the nationality (and the fact the O type comes from Cameroon) of the guy I would sleep better if I were able to take a test that is reliable for O type too (in Europe all tests are for HIV1 and HIV2 as opposed to the US. However I could not find a test that rules out O subtype.)

Have you heard of one?

Thanks

Offline RapidRod

  • Member
  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2007, 08:32:12 am »
Any of the newer tests pick up O.

Offline john123

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2007, 08:37:41 am »
Shall I look for something special?

I had a regular 3rg generation test.

Offline RapidRod

  • Member
  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2007, 08:49:10 am »
No, a 3rd generation test would have picked it up. But that really doesn't have anything to do with it. It's the machine that is used to analyze the test is what matters.  You have to realize that a lot of the new tests don't go by generation. It depends on the manufacture. At the clinic where I go there use to be a sign that says, check all for subtype O. The sign is now down and I asked why and the answer given all test ran check for O.

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2007, 09:34:26 am »
John,

I live in Europe too. The test would have picked it up if she actually were positive with a type O strain. As long as her test was done three months or more after her last unprotected encounter with this man (or any man), then she is conclusively hiv negative.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline john123

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #15 on: February 21, 2007, 05:05:09 am »
How about this rare cameroon N subtype? Any test for that?

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Is United Nations misleading people about the window period?
« Reply #16 on: February 21, 2007, 07:31:00 am »
John,

The test will pick up all the subtypes. How do you think they know they exist? People have to test positive in the first place before they can start pin-pointing subtypes a person may or may not have.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline john123

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Different window periods in UK?
« Reply #17 on: June 13, 2008, 08:52:22 am »
Hi guys,

Has the window period changed in UK or is it someone's private opinion?  I read somewhere in internet that they offer PCR tests that are conclusive before the 3 month period.

Does anyone know if it is official in UK?



« Last Edit: June 15, 2008, 06:26:53 am by john123 »

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Different window periods in UK?
« Reply #18 on: June 13, 2008, 09:52:09 am »
John,

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.


The lab you link to is a private, for-profit outfit and like any other for-profit outfit, they'll tell you just about anything.


DNA testing is not approved for diagnostic purposes in the UK. If you got a positive result on one of these, you'd still have to go down the normal route of antibody testing before you'd be officially confirmed as hiv positive.

The official window period for hiv testing in the UK is twelve weeks. The only negative hiv result considered conclusive is one obtained at twelve weeks (or more) post exposure.

I don't understand why anyone would shell out their hard-earned money to this lab when hiv testing is performed free and confidentially at any GUM clinic. Any positive test result obtained from these people will STILL have to be confirmed through further testing at a GUM clinic before monitoring and/or treatment would take place.

Ann

Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline john123

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Re: Different window periods in UK?
« Reply #19 on: June 15, 2008, 06:42:04 am »
Thanks Ann,

You are right. There are plenty of people trying to make money on human fear by offering so called "earlier" test. 

Googling "PCR tests" gave me at least 20 labs offering this but as you said those test are not for diagnostic purposes and they are not conclusive.

So having thought about this  I will follow your advice and visit my local GUM clinic here in Manchester for a standard antibody test at 3 month period.

Thanks again for your advice and let's consider this thread closed.

Take care and have a nice day!

John from Manchester
« Last Edit: June 15, 2008, 06:43:52 am by john123 »

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.