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Author Topic: Time to test  (Read 2528 times)

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Offline Timetotest5422

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Time to test
« on: May 11, 2013, 07:54:46 pm »
Well four months after a high risk exposure I am ready emotionally for my test.  I'd love some opinions from the moderators here.  Since I am 4 months out do I need a pcr or is an antibody test the way to go?  The company I am using uses labcorp and quest diagnoatic labs.  They both do the antibody test, labcorp uses icma technology and quest uses EIA.  Which one should I choose?  They both say hiv1/2, does that mean they can detect both antibodies hiv-1 and hiv-2 (my exposure was in India).  Are these tests FDA approved?  Sorry for so many questions, I just want to be sure I use the most reliable test.  Thank you.

Offline Jeff G

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Re: Time to test
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2013, 08:02:49 pm »
You are past the 3 month window period so if you take the antibody test you can get a definitive conclusive result . If you have access the oraquick swab test that would be the way to go .

What was your high risk exposure ?
HIV 101 - Basics
HIV 101
You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
HIV Transmission and Risks
You can read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read more about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

Offline Timetotest5422

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Re: Time to test
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2013, 08:32:59 pm »
Unprotected anal sex was my exposure.  I don't have access to the oraquick test.
Can you please advise me about the labcorp and quest antibody tests?  Will they be accurate and reliable?

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: Time to test
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2013, 08:56:38 pm »
Too late timewise for the antigen test. Either labcorp or quest will give you a reliable result.

..and stop having unprotected anal.

Good luck to you and keep us posted. 
Andy Velez

Offline jkinatl2

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Re: Time to test
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2013, 08:59:57 pm »
Unprotected anal sex was my exposure.  I don't have access to the oraquick test.
Can you please advise me about the labcorp and quest antibody tests?  Will they be accurate and reliable?

ANY antibody test past the three month period is completely accurate.

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

-Kimberly Page-Shafer, PhD, MPH

Welcome Thread

Offline Timetotest5422

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Re: Time to test
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2013, 09:06:09 pm »
Trust me Andy I've learned my lesson.  I've been an emotional wreck lately.  Since my exposure was in India will the antibody tests pick up strains that are not common in the states?  Does hiv 1/2 mean they test for both?  I will keep you all posted.

 


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