POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: whatisupwithme on October 03, 2010, 03:07:17 am

Title: Test HIV at home
Post by: whatisupwithme on October 03, 2010, 03:07:17 am
Hi everyone. Firstly, I'm from Asia so if something's wrong, sorry for my bad English :)
Two months ago I went to the barbershop and the clipper made my skin abrasions. I know I have a little HIV risk but I have to test to stay focus on working. My uncle is a doctor (althought his speciality is not about HIV) but he told me that he could do the Determined 1/2 for me at home. After 2 day in my house he tested for me and the result is negative, I'm so happy hehe  ;D But now I wonder that do the air temperature makes the stick working wrong, I mean do the hospitals have to preservation the testing stick away from the outdoor temperature? (The stick is still in the box before I do the test). I have never tested HIV in a hospital and I don't know if they have to put the testing stick in a refrigerator or something :D In US can people do the HIV 1/2 test at home, I think it is easy to do the test by yourrself? (U know what I mean?) Can I trust this negative result, do I have to retest in a hospital, I think my uncle did right process. Sorry if my question is too stupid.
Title: Re: Test HIV at home
Post by: RapidRod on October 03, 2010, 04:43:28 am
You never had a risk of contracting HIV and didn't need testing.
Title: Re: Test HIV at home
Post by: Andy Velez on October 03, 2010, 08:03:46 am
Yes, you can trust that test, although you never needed to test to begin with. HIV is a fragile virus and is not passed from nicks at the barber shop nor from doorknobs, toilet seats, food or other environmental surfaces and objects.

Also, if you ever had a real risk, which hopefully you won't, it is only with a test at 13 weeks after the event that you can have a conclusive negative result. A rapid test doesn't mean you can take the test any sooner, only that the result is very quick.