questions

[yeahidk]

Is anyone familiar with oraquick in home test?  I posted in hb and the feedback wasn't helpful. If exposure was 10 years ago would I be dead? Reading online most articles suggest no symptoms for 10 years or more. But the group on hb said I would be dead by now if infected 10 years ago. I've taken 2 oraquick at home tests. Idk if anyone is familIar with them but it says 1 in 12 will get a false negative result. That is why I took 2. Should I take the home access instead? Its just a little scary to think I could be infected but receiving a negative result. Started getting sdermatitis too which online says may start happening around the symptomatic stage and scares me even more. Are 2 false negatives possible? Have you heard of people testing negative on this test but positive on a blood test? Is 92% accurate and conclusive?

[Jeff G]

You are HIV negative and can put this behind you now . The test is realizable but if you are uneasy and want to test again for peace of mind then do so .

You may want to go to a clinic or testing facility to have it done since you don't seem to trust the results you have got already . 

[yeahidk]

Thanks for the response.  Would you get another?  I read about the test and how many lives it will save andthey all mention those lives outweigh the smaller number of people with false negatives.  Its just crazy to think down the road you find out it could be wrong. I don't go to the doctor or clinic.  That's why its great they offer an at home test. Now if they could find one that didn't add to the literature that it was only 91.7 accurate in detecting then there would be a lot less worried people.I appreciate your response it was much more helpful and considerate than the other forum.  I've read some of your responses you seem to know a great deal what you're talking about and it's appreciative.  God Bless!

[jkinatl2]

Thanks for the response.  Would you get another?  I read about the test and how many lives it will save andthey all mention those lives outweigh the smaller number of people with false negatives.  Its just crazy to think down the road you find out it could be wrong. I don't go to the doctor or clinic.  That's why its great they offer an at home test. Now if they could find one that didn't add to the literature that it was only 91.7 accurate in detecting then there would be a lot less worried people.I appreciate your response it was much more helpful and considerate than the other forum.  I've read some of your responses you seem to know a great deal what you're talking about and it's appreciative.  God Bless!

Oraquick is an excellent test. While it does not detect antigens like the Abbot 4th generation test (I am not aware of an in-home test that currently does) it dos detect antibodies with great accuracy.

I personally am glad they add the percentage to the information, as medical science simply will not allow for 100% certainty in ANYTHING. A percentage of people with HIV never experience a viral load, and never get sick. Not ever. A percentage of people with HIV develop terrible opportunistic infections and require extraordinary care right from the start. And these people have the SAME virus.

Humans. We look similar, but we are often quite different.

Also, the 97% figure factors in user error. It would seem that with a test as easy to use as the Oraquick, almost no one would be, you know, spitting on it or peeing on it. But it happens.

When used accurately, at the right testing window, and according to directions, the Oraquick is as accurate as any lab test you will get.

Some people simply don't trust the oral tests. Just like some people don't trust doctors.

Statistically speaking, if you had HIV for ten years, untreated, you would more likely than not be experiencing health issues related to that. Enough to land you in a doctor's care and the like. But some don't. Some people are Long Term Slow Progressors. Some people are Long Tern Non-Progressors.

Truly the only way to know your status is to test, if you have ever had unprotected anal or vaginal sex with a partner whose status is unknown.

The Oraquick test is easily as reliable as a pregnancy test - one of the more reliable tests in the field.

But learning of one's status and trusting that information, when gathered yourself and not by a medical doctor, might be two different things. It might well be that rather than questioning the science, it would behoove one to question his or her paradigm.

*Modified to correct the information that the Oraquick is an antibody only test.

[RapidRod]

The Oraquick in home test kit is only an antibody detection kit.

[yeahidk]

I think this is my last post. I read all your posts from back when the test came out in 2012 and most of the comments were just as alarmed about the 8% false negative rate.  What changed to make you believe this test is so accurate?  Does anyone know other than being in the window period and not following directions if there is any other reason it would be a false negative?  Had I known about this error rate I would have chose a different test from the beginning. I wish I could believe the results but that is a really high false negative rate and no articles mention what caused the false negatives. I'd not wish to pass on to anyone and I don't want to wake up one day gravely ill and close to death because I was falsely reassured from two inaccurate tests. Taking two was bad enough I don't want to go anywhere its scary I think. I fear I will stress about this everyday.  Thanks to you all.  Your service here everyday is more than most people do in a Lifetime. Youre surely appreciated and deserve a big thanks.

[jkinatl2]

The Oraquick in home test kit is only an antibody detection kit.

You are correct. Only the Abbot 4th gen test is a antibody AND antigen test. The Oraquick DUO test only tests for antibodies, and is called "duo" because (like the Abbot test and virtually every single other test) it tests for HIV 1 and 2. I will modify my original post to reflect the consumer version's standards.

If you read the directions ont he Oraquick site, the eight percent false negative rate is in large part due to user error; not taking the test at the appropriate time and/or having unprotected sex during the testing window.

Of course, if you are still concerned then finding an ASO or doctor who will administer a blood test is a solution. People say that canot stand to wait for test results that take time, and then say that they cannot trust test results that arrive quickly.

There is a disconnect there.