Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 12:48:55 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37614
  • Latest: bondann
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772947
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 388
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 381
Total: 381

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Welcome to Do I Have HIV?

Welcome to the "Do I Have HIV?" POZ forum.

This special section of the POZ forum is for individuals who have concerns about whether or not they are HIV positive. Individuals are permitted to post up to three questions or responses in this forum.

Ongoing participation in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum (posting more than three questions or responses) requires a paid subscription, with secure payments made via PayPal.

A seven-day subscription is $9.99, a 30-day subscription is $14.99 and a 90-day subscription is $24.99.

Anyone who needs to post more than three messages in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum -- including past, present and future POZ Forums members -- will need to subscribe, with secure payments made via PayPal.

There is no charge to read threads in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum, nor will there be a charge for participating in any of the other POZ forums. In addition, the POZ Basics "HIV Transmission and Risks" and "HIV Testing" basics, will remain accessible to all.

NOTE: HIV testing questions will still need to be posted in the "Do I Have HIV?" forum; attempts to post HIV symptoms or testing questions in any other forums will be considered violations of our rules of membership and subject to time-outs and permanent bans.

To learn how to upgrade your Forums account to participate beyond three posts in the "Do I Have HIV?" Forum, please click here.

Thank you for your understanding and future support of the best online support service for people living with, affected by and at risk for HIV.

Author Topic: San Francisco's RNA Test  (Read 4478 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline jmeich88

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 3
San Francisco's RNA Test
« on: April 06, 2013, 10:05:50 am »
Hello,

I would like to know how reliable the RNA test is, the test that looks for the 'actual' virus in your blood. I went in for testing two weeks after a low risk/no risk exposure...I decided to get tested for peace of mind and just to make sure since I received mixed opinions. I ended up going to UCSF's Alliance Health Project. We did an antibody test and then they took blood in two tubes. They said the window period for the RNA is two weeks and it would pick up anything past two weeks. Before, I went to UCSF, I called several other places, including Magnet SF and SF City Clinic. They ALL offered the test. The result of my test came back negative....Ann, I know you have said 4 weeks after exposure with a antibody test?

Thoughts please.

Offline jkinatl2

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,007
  • Doo. Dah. Dipp-ity.
Re: San Francisco's RNA Test
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2013, 04:14:11 pm »
Hello,

I would like to know how reliable the RNA test is, the test that looks for the 'actual' virus in your blood. I went in for testing two weeks after a low risk/no risk exposure...I decided to get tested for peace of mind and just to make sure since I received mixed opinions. I ended up going to UCSF's Alliance Health Project. We did an antibody test and then they took blood in two tubes. They said the window period for the RNA is two weeks and it would pick up anything past two weeks. Before, I went to UCSF, I called several other places, including Magnet SF and SF City Clinic. They ALL offered the test. The result of my test came back negative....Ann, I know you have said 4 weeks after exposure with a antibody test?

Thoughts please.

Well, the PCR test is hardly ever used as part of a diagnostic routine outside of a healthcare situation. It's an expensive test, and is essentially a waste of time, money and resources. It is also not a substitute for an antibody test.

Might I ask what was your risk?

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

-Kimberly Page-Shafer, PhD, MPH

Welcome Thread

Offline jmeich88

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: San Francisco's RNA Test
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2013, 04:19:53 pm »
fingering, genital secretions coming into contact with a cut. Had a pretty bad sore throat for a week, so my head started spinning. I know its considered low risk/no risk. But I need to test for peace of mind.

The tests are free at all the locations here in San Francisco. Even the CDC states that such a test has a shortened window period. It is all a bit confusing since SF has a large amount of people with the virus and yet they are promoting something that isn't used for diagnosing HIV? I find it all confusing....

when would be an accurate time to obtain an antibody result? I know Ann has given the advice to others at 4 weeks...did I read that correctly?

Offline RapidRod

  • Member
  • Posts: 15,288
Re: San Francisco's RNA Test
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2013, 04:33:51 pm »
You never had an exposure and there are no tests marketed or sold to give a conclusive negative test earlier than 3 months post exposure.

Offline jkinatl2

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,007
  • Doo. Dah. Dipp-ity.
Re: San Francisco's RNA Test
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2013, 06:48:46 pm »
I certainly hope you take the time to read our fairly thorough LESSONS section on transmission. Fingering with or without cuts is roughly the same degree of HIV risk as sitting in a room with a positive person.

No one in the rather extensively researched thirty-plus years of the HIV pandemic has ever been even thought to have become infected through fingering. You will not be making medical history here.

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

-Kimberly Page-Shafer, PhD, MPH

Welcome Thread

Offline jmeich88

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: San Francisco's RNA Test
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2013, 03:58:24 pm »
Thanks......Ann, Can I Have your opinion about RNA TESTING? please.

thanks

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: San Francisco's RNA Test
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2013, 06:35:01 am »
jm,

In your situation, it is a complete waste of time, money and resources. You do not even need antibody testing over this situation, let alone RNA testing.

RNA PCR testing is only meant to be used in a very few, very specific types of situations, such as an actual high risk. An example; being the receptive partner in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse where the insertive partner is KNOWN to be hiv positive).

With RNA testing there is the possibility of a false negative or false positive. While the DNA PCR tests are more prone to false positives, either false result can happen with either test.

When there has actually been a risk (you did NOT have a risk), RNA testing is not a stand-alone test. Any result, positive or negative, must be confirmed with the appropriate antibody tests at the appropriate time.

When there has actually been a risk (you did NOT have a risk), the earliest one should test for antibodies is at six weeks. The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days.

A six week negative antibody result must be confirmed at the three month point, but is highly unlikely to change.

You do NOT need hiv testing over this NO RISK situation. Fingering is NOT a risk for hiv infection. Not one person has ever been infected through fingering and you are not going to be the first.


Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

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 the 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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann
« Last Edit: April 08, 2013, 06:37:07 am by Ann »
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.