POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: worry on June 07, 2006, 09:32:04 am

Title: Test Result
Post by: worry on June 07, 2006, 09:32:04 am

Hi there:

After 10-11 weeks from possible exposure, I went for my screening ELISA test.
Thanks God! The result is NON-REACTIVE.

I noticed that the test was only done in single run. The 2nd and 3rd run were skipped since the 1st run is already NON-REACTIVE. I also noticed two parameters: od=0.126, co=0.245.

My counselor cannot explain clearly about the meaning of od and co. He told me that Doctor never refer to that number.

I looked at some websites, OD=Optical Density. CO=Cut-off.
From my understanding, OD reflects the absorbance level of the test, which reflects the number of antibody trapped by the reagen.

Based on that understanding, I have curiosity (also worry):
1. If I'm NON-REACTIVE, then why my OD>0? From my humble understanding, OD>0 means that my body contains particular antibody looked by ELISA.
2. What made OD>0 beside that particular antibody? What's OD for uninfected people?
3. What's the chance of having OD increase and hit the limit sometimes? Considering I did the test on 10-11 weeks after exposure?

Can I tell to myself that I'm conclusively NEGATIVE, considering I did the test 2.5 weeks before 13 weeks?

My counselor asked me to retest again in 3 and 6 months afterward (6 and 12 months after exposure).

Best Regards.

Title: Re: Test Result
Post by: Andy Velez on June 07, 2006, 10:11:09 am

I don't know where your counselor is getting his suggestions from but those testing dates are totally antiquated.

The CDC is conservative in this matter and recommends testing at 13 weeks as sufficient for a reliable result. The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the very smallest number will seroconvert within 4-6 weeks after an exposure to the virus. Which means that your test result is nearly gold as far as I am concerned.

We stick with recommending 13 weeks as the testing point. If you re-test at 13 weeks I do expect you will get another negative. So it's your call on how to proceed. There is certainly no need for testing beyond 13 weeks, no matter what your counselor said. And yes, that is definitely a negative result you received. Do yourself a favor an don't get caught up in details that do not matter.

Cheers, 

Title: Re: Test Result
Post by: worry on June 07, 2006, 09:33:04 pm

Thanks Andy,

Your reply is really gold. It's helping me to relieve my worry.
Sometimes I stuck in the detail of the test. It made me more worry than relieve.
I will start to give my body a favor... my life paused for 11 weeks... it's really stressful.

Regards.