POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: DanMo on February 12, 2011, 05:54:25 pm
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NOTE: So sorry for the length! But I had to get this off my chest!
Yesterday (11 FEB 2011) I got tested with a rapid 20 minute oral swab test. The line that is supposed to indicate that you have HIV was faintly visible after the 20 minute wait period. It got a little darker after about 20 more minutes passed (I was kinda in shock and the counselor and I were talking about it).
The counselor told me that there is a great possibility that I am HIV +. He made me do another test, this time another swab test that you keep on your cheek for a couple of minutes and has to be looked at by doctors in a lab to confirm. (I'm supposed to get the results by 25 FEB as the latest, and a week as the soonest).
He kept saying, "if that is the case" (that you are HIV positive) the confirmation test should be able to tell me.
I was so upset yesterday... when I left the clinic, I was driving and went through a roller-coaster of emotions. I was angry, hitting my steering wheel, then I started crying. When I got home I tried to compose myself, but seeing my mother I totally broke down and eventually told her what might be in store for me.
I spent most of today on this site reading all the forum posts and about medications... I'm still hoping that the test will come back negative and that the first oral swab was just a false positive (as I've read that false positives are possible).
I feel totally lost and scared for my life. I'm 23 years old (I was a virgin until I was 22 and I've only been sexually active since October 2010). I'm also a full-time student in college. I thought I was practicing safe sex. What caused me to go get tested this (third) time was that a condom broke and we didn't realize it until a few minutes when he took his penis out to change position. Also, I gave oral sex to someone and he ejaculated on my face. If I am HIV +, it had to have happened in January and the beginning of February.
My last HIV test on 10 DEC 2010 came back negative. And I felt compelled to get tested again yesterday because of the those particular incidents.
Again, I'm sorry for the length and I'm quite sure my post doesn't flow very well, I'm just at my wits end wondering how I will survive two weeks without knowing a definite answer!
Thanks in advance for taking the time to read my post!
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Has your doctor arranged to have your blood test results confirmed by Western Blot test? If your result has not been confirmed by WB this thread really should be in the Am I Infected? forum.
MtD
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I went to an HIV testing site and they don't do blood tests. They use an oral swab. The first one was a rapid 20-minute test. Upon being reactive, they use another different swab and send it off to a lab. The counselor told me that the second test is a good as a blood test.
I don't know anything about the Western Blot test. The test I used confirms HIV by looking for HIV antibodies.
I was unsure of where to put this post because technically, I tested "positive" even though if it's just a preliminary test.
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Has anyone had any experience with the 20 minute oral swab tests? I got tested yesterday and it came back reactive. The line was faint at first. I'm hoping that this is a false positive!
Dan
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False positives are not unusual. Until you have received a positive western blot you are not confirmed as positive. So that's your next step, to have that test done.
Fingers crossed that you come out of this ok and keep us posted.
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False positives are not unusual. Until you have received a positive western blot you are not confirmed as positive. So that's your next step, to have that test done.
Fingers crossed that you come out of this ok and keep us posted.
I'm really hoping this is a false positive... I'm driving myself crazy! I'm waiting on results from the other swab test, but I'm going to try and see where I can get the Western Blot done.
The waiting and uncertainty is what's driving me crazy. Not to mention the whole roller-coaster of emotions.
Thanks Andy for responding to my post, I appreciated it.
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I dont know but your proably ok. The condom broke and you said he reslized that when he changed positions. Well it sounds like he didn't cum in the rubber . So at that point I figured he changed rubbers and finished. I also don't think you can get HIV by getting ejaculate on the face.
So unless your leaving other episodes out i loI l
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Dan,
You need to have your positive result confirmed with blood tests - both another antibody test plus a Western Blot. Until you have a positive Western Blot, you cannot and should not consider yourself hiv positive.
I've merged your thread from the Just Tested forum into your thread in the Am I Infected forum, which is the only place you should post until you've been confirmed positive.
You can find somewhere else to test at by putting your zip code into our Health Services Directory (http://directory.poz.com/) database.
Good luck. From the risk you describe (only the broken condom was a risk) you have a very good chance of this being a false positive.
Ann
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Hey guys!
I did some researching and I found out what they are using to test me is called an "Oral Specimen Collection Device". It's like a Q-Tip and is placed between the cheek and the gums. "An ELISA is performed on the mucosal transudate" that they collect with the device. "All positive ELISA [...] test results are confirmed with a confirmatory test, a Western Blot."
So, instead of using my blood, they are using the mucosal transudate from my mouth.
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No, you still have to have your tested confirmed.
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No, you still have to have your tested confirmed.
So besides the one they are doing right now... I should go ahead a look into getting a blood one too?
Dan
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You have to get your test confirmed.
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So besides the one they are doing right now... I should go ahead a look into getting a blood one too?
Dan
Yes, a test which is based on a blood draw would be advisable in your case. If you can arrange for one, do so.
MtD
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Yes, a test which is based on a blood draw would be advisable in your case. If you can arrange for one, do so.
MtD
OK thanks! I'm a little upset since they told me it would be just as good as a blood test... but oh well!
Thanks for the advice!
Dan
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OK thanks! I'm a little upset since they told me it would be just as good as a blood test... but oh well!
Thanks for the advice!
Dan
Please note my advice is not intended to call into question the validity of the oral tests. They are good. It's just that where there is some confusion about a result (such as this situation) starting again with a fresh sample is a good idea.
So, in my opinion, you should retest with a blood draw. That's what I would do in your situation.
MtD
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Yeah, I understand. Thanks for the advice man. I'll keep you guys up to date on whatever happens...
On another note: does anyone have any advice on what to do while waiting for confirmatory results? I'm trying to stay calm and positive. I've gone and read up on as much as I can on certain meds.
And I've been trying to deal with the emotional aspect of it all. I told my mom of the possibility and she's providing support to me. But every so often, I start re-playing the last month in my head, and getting angry, and scared and thinking about my future... I guess that I'm trying to prepare myself mentally for this. I don't want to be in denial.
I just need an outlet and I figure this is a good place to do it.
Dan
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Yeah, I understand. Thanks for the advice man. I'll keep you guys up to date on whatever happens...
On another note: does anyone have any advice on what to do while waiting for confirmatory results? I'm trying to stay calm and positive. I've gone and read up on as much as I can on certain meds.
And I've been trying to deal with the emotional aspect of it all. I told my mom of the possibility and she's providing support to me. But every so often, I start re-playing the last month in my head, and getting angry, and scared and thinking about my future... I guess that I'm trying to prepare myself mentally for this. I don't want to be in denial.
I just need an outlet and I figure this is a good place to do it.
Dan
Start by turning off your conputer.
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These situations are why giving ELISA positive results without the WB confirmatory result is so problematic. Confusion and general misery is the consequence.
For the record I agree with my colleagues that your test result (given the risk you report and your testing results history) could well be a false positive.
Alternatively it may not be. So best to get a whole new sample taken and start again.
MtD
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Hi Matty,
Yes I will look into getting a blood test done.
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Hi everyone, I'm back:
I haven't gotten a blood test done yet, just because of inconvenient hours (I go to university and work every day). But I finally received the results for the oral swab they took: the lab determined it to be INCONCLUSIVE. :-\
They did the EIA which came out positive, but the Western Blot came out inconclusive.
I'm going to go to the Health Department on Monday to do the blood HIV test (since I'm off on Spring Break).
The counselor at the testing clinic gave me my results and he told me he was concerned because he's been seeing many more inconclusive results recently. Has anyone here heard of anything like this? I first took the 20-minute OraQuick test which came back positive, and now the oral swab specimen came back from the lab as positive on the EIA test and inconclusive on the Western Blot test.
Thanks in advance guys!
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Hi everyone, I'm back:
I haven't gotten a blood test done yet, just because of inconvenient hours (I go to university and work every day). But I finally received the results for the oral swab they took: the lab determined it to be INCONCLUSIVE. :-\
They did the EIA which came out positive, but the Western Blot came out inconclusive.
I'm going to go to the Health Department on Monday to do the blood HIV test (since I'm off on Spring Break).
The counselor at the testing clinic gave me my results and he told me he was concerned because he's been seeing many more inconclusive results recently. Has anyone here heard of anything like this? I first took the 20-minute OraQuick test which came back positive, and now the oral swab specimen came back from the lab as positive on the EIA test and inconclusive on the Western Blot test.
Thanks in advance guys!
Yes, this is not uncommon. EIA positive + WB inconclusive == HIV negative.
Following up on this result with a new blood test is probably a good idea, but I imagine the result will still be HIV negative.
MtD
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You guys here have been a great help, not only to me, but also to others who are going through the same situation; for that I thank you!
I will keep you guys updated on what happens.
Have a great weekend!
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Dan, the condom protected you until it broke. That's in your favor. As far as I can tell you had a single possible risk. Also makes it in your favor to test negative.
Fingers crossed for you here.
Good luck with the new test.
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Dan, the condom protected you until it broke. That's in your favor. As far as I can tell you had a single possible risk. Also makes it in your favor to test negative.
Fingers crossed for you here.
Good luck with the new test.
Hi, Andy:
I just came back from the Health Department. I tested positive for HIV on a 20 minute rapid blood test. :'(
So they drew a vial a blood to have it sent off to the lab. From what they tell me, whomever tests positive on the rapid blood test will most likely test positive again on the blood panel... They told me again that I will have to wait two weeks for the results of this test. They even took down contact info for my past partners...
So I'm going through all the same emotions I went through with the very first test I got in February. This is getting even more real for me now. I'm in such a funk right now. I just keep wishing it wasn't true. All this waiting is driving me crazy, especially since they said the oral swabs were just as effective... but then again, it could be that I was just recently exposed.
Thanks again you guys for your help and listening. I don't want to dump all this on my mother. She knows about the first positive and I told her about the inconclusive, but I'm waiting for this current one before telling her anything. This new one should include the CD4 and VL numbers if it so happens that I'm positive. So I'll now where I stand.
I have absolutely no idea what to do about doctors or medications since I don't have insurance. They tell me the Health Department will give free medications, but I'm pretty sure the public services are limited and probably not as good as a private doctor... sigh. :-\
Anyway thanks again.
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Dan,
False positive results on the rapid tests are, unfortunately, somewhat common. Sometimes underlying, undiagnosed autoimmune disease can cause it, pregnancy can cause it, and sometimes they just happen. If your only possible risk was the condom break, you most likely have had a false positive.
And just so you know, you are not permitted to post in the other areas of the forum until such time as a confirmed positive result has been had. Thank you for your cooperation on this.
Good luck.
Ann
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Dan,
False positive results on the rapid tests are, unfortunately, somewhat common. Sometimes underlying, undiagnosed autoimmune disease can cause it, pregnancy can cause it, and sometimes they just happen. If your only possible risk was the condom break, you most likely have had a false positive.
And just so you know, you are not permitted to post in the other areas of the forum until such time as a confirmed positive result has been had. Thank you for your cooperation on this.
Good luck.
Ann
Hi Ann,
Thanks for your response. I find it appalling that false positives are so common. What are the chances that 3 tests in a row would come out as false positives (including a rapid blood test)?
Apart from the condom breaking, I just remembered a night in December... I'm sure I used a condom, but I'm also remembering that I might have briefly inserted my penis into the guy's anus. This hadn't given me alarm before, because we didn't have much success penetrating each other, and we used condoms for the most part. I can't even remember if I did actually penetrate him. But getting infected from brief exposure as a top is very low-risk, right?
This is one reason why I'm so frustrated, I can't pinpoint an actual "high-risk" factor. A condom breaking and possible penetration is all I can account for as risky behavior on my part.
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Dan,
If something like an underlying, undiagnosed autoimmune problem is causing false positives, it wouldn't be surprising that repeated rapid tests would have the same result.
It's very unlikely that you would have been infected from a brief unprotected insertion as a top. You being the bottom when the condom broke is the more likely culprit if the confirmation tests confirm a positive result.
Hang in there until you get the results, and try to keep busy with other things in your life while you wait. Fretting is not going to change the ultimate outcome, so don't torture yourself needlessly. Again, good luck. Keep us posted - I've got my fingers crossed that you won't be permitted to post in the other sections of the forums.
Ann
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Dan,
If something like an underlying, undiagnosed autoimmune problem is causing false positives, it wouldn't be surprising that repeated rapid tests would have the same result.
It's very unlikely that you would have been infected from a brief unprotected insertion as a top. You being the bottom when the condom broke is the more likely culprit if the confirmation tests confirm a positive result.
Hang in there until you get the results, and try to keep busy with other things in your life while you wait. Fretting is not going to change the ultimate outcome, so don't torture yourself needlessly. Again, good luck. Keep us posted - I've got my fingers crossed that you won't be permitted to post in the other sections of the forums.
Ann
Thanks for responding Ann...
I'm trying to remain optimistic, but I have a strong sense to be realistic and prepare myself for the worst. It's the way I always handle tough times.
I'll keep you guys posted once I get the final results.
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Like Ann I also think that there is still a good chance you will come through this ok.
Good luck to you.
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Like Ann I also think that there is still a good chance you will come through this ok.
Good luck to you.
I really hope so!
I was able to wait 3 weeks for my last results, so another 2 weeks will be OK I guess, especially since I'm so busy with school and work.