POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: ATGR on October 22, 2009, 07:19:06 pm
-
Is anyone knowledgable about PCR testing. If an individual is HIV+ without antibodies or meds to keep it in check, how soon after infection would a PCR RNA or a PCR DNA detect the virus? For how long would the virus be detectable without the antibodies or meds? It seems that the docs on the various hiv web sites avoid giving definite answers to questions related to PCR testing, with the exception of "they are not approved for diagnosing HIV." I had these tests done at 6 and 9 weeks after a low risk exposure. I would really like to know this answer. Thanks!
-
The PCRs were never intended to be used for diagnostic purposes. If you have had unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse, then you need to get tested. A negative result with standard test at 13 weeks will give you a reliable result. You can if you wish test initially at 6 weeks. If you get a negative at that point then it is very likely you will continue to test negative. Your negative at 9 weeks is very, very unlikely to change but you should follow through and get tested at 13 weeks just to be sure.
Cheers.
-
Hey, Andy, thanks for responding. I did have a negative at 12 1/2 weeks for low risk activity. Though, I have read on this site of those who tested positive after 12 weeks. This worries me. This is why I am curious about my negative PCR's. My assumption would be that if the virus was unchecked for 6 or 9 weeks it would surely be easily detected.
-
negative elisa at 12 1/2 weeks.
-
That's the happiest of results. Get on with your life and make sure that for intercourse you are always using condoms. That's the way to remain HIV negative.
Cheers.
-
ATGR,
No, you have not "read on this site of those who tested positive after 12 weeks." What you've read on this site are people who had additional risks and tested positive after those additional risks. What you're seeing is the result of (previously) hiv negative people who think they can "serosort" and have unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with other people who they believe or who claim to be also be hiv negative. Some of these people have regular (yearly or more often) hiv tests - and come to find out that someone who they believed to be hiv negative wasn't.
You can avoid this in your own life by never taking someone's word for it that they're hiv negative and never assuming someone is hiv negative just because of how they look, or what you think you know about their sexual history or background in general.
You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.
Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.
Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.
If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann
-
I am pretty sure that read on the "just turned positve board of a few people who claim to have turned positive after an 11 week negaivte via insertive oral with a girl. Maybe I misread something. Anyway, I surely do appreciate you guys for what you do. Thanks for responding.
-
Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.
-
ATGR,
That person most likely had a false positive result following a NO RISK situation. His thread was moved back into this forum after we realised he never had a Western Blot confirmation. Without a WB confirmation, a person is not considered hiv positive. We haven't heard back from him lately, I'm assuming he probably tested negative via WB.
So yes, you've misread.
You are conclusively hiv negative. You do not have hiv. Protect your status by always using condoms, correctly and consistently. That's all you need to do to remain hiv negative and yes, it REALLY is that simple!
And please take note of the posting guideline Rodney posted for you. Please consider yourself warned.
Ann
-
Will do, and thanks!
-
I thought that I was tested with ELISA. Is an abs-ICMU the same thing? If not, what is it and how reliable are the results compared to ELISA?
-
Return to your original thread. Take the time to read the posting guidelines.
-
I thought that I was tested with ELISA. Is an abs-ICMU the same thing? If not, what is it and how reliable are the results compared to ELISA?
-
I've merged your threads. Please follow our rule and keep all of your entries in this same thread.
I think you mean abs-ICMA test. If your result was non-reactive that means you're negative for HIV.
-
Thanks, Andy, for responding. Sorry about the second thread. I didn't read the rules. I'll assume that the ICMA is as reliable as the ELISA.
-
Right.
On with your life...