negative labcorp icma antibody at 60 days

[jtb]

Almost six weeks ago I had brief unprotected vaginal sex with female of unknown status after condom failure. I understand that tests are conclusive after 3 months but I can't wait that long.

1. had a flu vaccine about 2 months ago. I heard these could trigger a false positive. How likely is it for this to occur on a blood test sent to a lab? I am testing next week 6 weeks after incident. I do not want to deal with false positive.

2. Suppose there is a positive elisa at 6 weeks and an indeterminate western blot. Does this mean I would most likely be positive?

3. Suppose there is a postive elisa at 6 weeks and and a negative western blot? Is it too early to determine status?

[RapidRod]

A conclusive negative test is one done 3 months post exposure and a western blot is only used to confirm a positive result.


edited for spelling:

[Ann]

jtb,

1. Not very likely.

2. Possibly.

3. The WB will usually be positive at the same time as a standard antibody test. However, a negative result cannot be confirmed until the three month point.

If your result is negative, you will still have to confirm at the three month point. Sorry, there are no short-cuts to hiv testing.

Ann

[jtb]

Thanks Ann. Are false positives not very likely on blood sent to a lab regardless of the cause?

[Ann]

jtb,

Most labs will either retest the sample and test with a WB if the second result is also positive, and some will go straight to testing the sample with a WB. Some places might have you submit a second sample for re-testing. You'll have to ask where you test at which procedure they use.

While false positives do happen, they're not terribly common.

Ann

[jtb]

One more question I forgot to ask. The testing center I called said they send the blood to a lab and get the results the next day. They said the lab does elisa confirmed by WB. Isn't the next day rather quick especially with a positive elisa? Doesn't the WB take longer?

[Ann]

jtb,

No, a one-day turn-around on doing both the elisa and WB is perfectly acceptable. When I tested poz, the turn-around was a little less than 24 hours.

It might be a viral load test that you're thinking of - they can take up to two weeks to be returned. You don't need viral load testing unless you test positive on both the elisa and the WB.

Ann

[jtb]

OK thanks for all the clear and helpful answers.

[jtb]

Yet another question I forgot to ask. About 3 weeks after incident I had a mild sore throat for about ten days. A day after sore throat healed I developed white patches on top of tongue. I realize these could be due to any number of causes. However if they are due to seroconversion would the test automatically detect the antibodies at 5 - 6 weeks post exposure? In other words if negative I could rule out that these were ars symptoms?

[RapidRod]

Yet another question I forgot to ask. About 3 weeks after incident I had a mild sore throat for about ten days. A day after sore throat healed I developed white patches on top of tongue. I realize these could be due to any number of causes. However if they are due to seroconversion would the test automatically detect the antibodies at 5 - 6 weeks post exposure? In other words if negative I could rule out that these were ars symptoms?

Reread Ann's reply, ("reply #2")

[jtb]

My icma lab test from lab corp came back negative at 5 weeks 3 days. I know I still need further testing to be conclusuve.

My test never went to western blot but I was worried because the tester told me the results would be back in 24 hours. It took almost 48 hours. I thought maybe a western blot was holding it up. How long does it take after intitial positive for a confirmatory western blot  a lab such as lab corp? Would it be done right away and would how long would the test take. How much longer would it take for the results? Thanks

[Andy Velez]

Labs run on their own schedules and it is a mistake to interpret a slow or delayed result as a sign of a test gone positive.

JB, I notice that you have posted an entry in another member's thread. Only those authorized by the site are allowed to respond to other members. Please follow our rule and only post entries in your own thread. Thanks for your cooperation.

[jtb]

Andy, sorry I forgot about the rule. So you are saying that a western blot alone would not cause significant delay? Also I read that most have detectable antibodies at 4-6 weeks. If someone had ars symptoms would they more likely have antibodies at this period? Is there a correlation among seroconversion, ars symptoms and detectable antibodies? Again I know I am still within the window period.

[Andy Velez]

Neither the presence nor the absence of symptoms should ever be interpreted to indicate HIV status. The symptoms of ARS often are very similar to other health issues, so symptoms are just not a reliable way to judge.

Only an HIV test taken at the right time can give the answer you want reliably. At 6 weeks all but the smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will have done so and will test positive. A negative at 6 weeks is an indication the person will likely continue to test negative at 3 months.

 

[Ann]

jtb,

You seem to have a difficult time remembering things you've read here. Aside from "forgetting about the rule" (I deleted that post, btw. Don't do it again.) you are forgetting what you've already been told about WB testing. Go read your ENTIRE thread again until it sinks in.

They would not have run a WB because your antibody test was negative. WB is only run following a positive antibody result.

The illness that sometimes accompanies seroconversion is not due to the virus itself, it is due to the process the body goes through while creating antibodies. So yes, if your illness had anything to do with hiv, you most likely would have tested positive at your last test, or indeterminate at the very least. Not negative.

You are highly unlikely to go one to test positive when you confirm your negative result. I have yet to see the insertive partner end up positive over a condom break and I do not expect you to be the first - so chill.

Ann

[jtb]

 
 

The illness that sometimes accompanies seroconversion is not due to the virus itself, it is due to the process the body goes through while creating antibodies. So yes, if your illness had anything to do with hiv, you most likely would have tested positive at your last test, or indeterminate at the very least. Not negative.

Ann, thanks that is exactly what I was not sure about. You have made it clear for me.


"They would not have run a WB because your antibody test was negative. WB is only run following a positive antibody result"

I understand no WB was run on my test. My concern about how long a WB would take or hold up results concerned future tests.

[Ann]

jtb,

A WB should not hold the results up. Depending on how busy the lab is, they can be returned in as little as 24 hours. DEPENDING ON THE WORK LOAD OF THE LAB!!!

You need to stop worrying about a test you're not even going to need. For the last time, a WB is only run when they have had a positive antibody result. They have not had a positive antibody result for you and frankly, they're not going to either.

Ann

[jtb]

I had brief unprotected vaginal sex with a low end sex worker after condom failure. The icma test came back negative at 8 weeks 4 days.

1. At sixty days are these tests as reliable as third generation elisa?

2. Are some people slow to produce antibodies regardless of the virus? For instance, I had a genital herpes swab come back positive and almost a year later (I do not remember exactly how long or the type of test) a blood test was still negative. Are herpes antibodies slower to produce or are the tests not as acccurate as Hiv tests?

[Ann]

jtb,

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep everything in one thread. It doesn't matter how long it has been since you last posted in your thread or if the subject matter is different.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.





1. Yes. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks - regardless of the test used - with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days. A six week (or more) negative must be confirmed at the three month point, but is highly unlikely to change.

2. No. As I said, most people will seroconvert by six weeks and the average time to seroconversion is only 22 days.

The blood tests for herpes are somewhat unreliable. The best way to test for herpes is to swab an open herpes lesion. I've had herpes (confirmed by a swab test) for over thirty years and I've yet to have the blood test come back positive.

As you've been told, as the insertive partner you are highly unlikely to end up positive following a condom break. I do not expect your result to change when you confirm at the three month point.

Ann