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Author Topic: Oraquick Home swab test  (Read 15421 times)

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Offline jbosco

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Oraquick Home swab test
« on: June 12, 2013, 07:01:29 pm »
I was ready to put a possible exposure I had to bed until I started reading about false negatives with the new Home swab test from Oraquick.
(Mouth swab test)
I've self tested at week 6, 8, 12 and for good measure ,week 13 exactly post possible exposure.
I followed the instructions carefully and even watched the video.
I cannot fathom how anybody would be able to screw up. It seems pretty straight forward....i.e, dont eat or drink 30 minutes before the test, swab ONCE, upper and lower gums and after 20 minutes read the result.
They all came back negative. Clear line at the C and nothing at the T. I even waited another 20 minutes just to make sure the test stick wouldn't change and it didn't.
I've read that the evidence is out that by 6 but certainly by 8 weeks virtually everyone will test positive if infected. Any FDA approved test ( home oral swab included) is considered reliable after 8 weeks but for extra caution and legal considerations they will stick to 12 to 13 weeks.
I've come across a meta-analysis study of the Oraquick swab test in rural India conducted by McGill University of Montreal and the results are very incouraging.
They've encounterd a few false positives but almost 100% reliability when the test was negative.
To make a long story short...can I consider myself conclusively negative ?
I would greatly appreciate any input.

Offline Jeff G

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Re: Oraquick Home swab test
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2013, 07:14:14 pm »
You can consider your test as conclusive if any one of your test were 3 months past any possible exposure .

HIV is sexually acquired through unprotected vaginal or anal sex or by sharing IV drug injecting equipment ... or mother to child during childbirth .

Don't forget to get your yearly or more sexual health check up for ALL stds , most of them are much easier to acquire than HIV . Use condoms consistently and correctly and you will avoid exposure to HIV .
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 jbosco

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Re: Oraquick Home swab test
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2013, 07:21:55 pm »
Thanks Jeff,

Don't worry......this ain't going to happen again for me.
The worst part is not being infected and my own health but potentially hurting someone else.
So, I guess I am done testing.

Thanks again.

Offline Jeff G

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Re: Oraquick Home swab test
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2013, 07:24:56 pm »
You are most welcome JBosco .
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 jbosco

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Ann or Jeff re misuse of the Oraquick home test
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2013, 06:37:53 pm »
I am not sure if I am allowed to re-post but here it goes.
I've posted before about my own situation and I took the self administered  home oral swab test by Oraquick.
I've come to realize that it is indeed a very reliable test if taken post 12 week of a potential exposure.
Just to clarify...there is nothing wrong with the test itself. It's FDA approved and it is very reliable.

The problem is, and the reason I am posting this is because I just had a conversation with someone that said the home test is a great thing because one can screen potential sex partners at home prior to having un-protected sex.
This is very WRONG!!
The home test was NEVER designed for that purpose!
One cannot know with certainty that the potential sex partner has not had unprotected sex within the window period of 12 weeks!
You cannot "screen" a potential sex partner that way as you will never know if he/she is in the window period.
The test itself is great to determine your own status AFTER 12 weeks...not anybody else's.
I just thought to throw this out there...just in case.
In this day and age, with all we know about HIV transmission, condom use for penetrative sex is non-negotiable!
I apologize if I broke any rules about posting but I think it was worth mentioning....it may save somebody from doing something foolish.


Offline Jeff G

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Re: Oraquick Home swab test
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2013, 07:01:20 pm »
Hi Jbosco . Please keep all of your post and thoughts in this thread and do not start another one . If you cant find your thread you go to your profile page and select show own post and it will take you here .

You are correct , its a misuse of the oraquick home test to attempt to serosort potential sex partners .   
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 jkinatl2

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Re: Oraquick Home swab test
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2013, 09:02:09 pm »
I Agree wholehesrtedly with Moderator Jeff, and it was one of the main reasons I thought putting the Praquick on the market was too soon, and without proper education. If there had been Oraquick testing available for, say a year at local drop-in clinics (in the US they are at many large drugstores, grocery stores, Wal Mart and the like) there could have been an extended process of education.

Using the Oraquick in the manner you mention will provide an ecuse for unprotected sex with partners of unknown status without condoms. And the sad fact is, a newly infected person will be HIGHLY infectious in the weeks before his/her body starts producing antibodies. Ironically, a person who is already tested positive and on antiviral medication is almost as uninfectious in unprotected sex as s/he would be with protected sex - so these people are potentially screening OUT people who present the LEAST risk to them, and allowing people who present the greatest risk.

Sigh.

I am glad you are HIV negative. Please continue to use a condom for penetrative sex and you will remain negative.

As for stopping people from doing something foolish, well, luckily people keep having babies.

"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

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