query on testing method

[roltu]

I am not getting any authentic source or any information regarding ECLIA methodologies for HIV antibody testing.My question is...

1.What is an HIV antibody test by ECLIA method?
2.How reliable is the test?
3.Is ECLIA same as ELISA?
4.If it is not then what is the difference between ECLIA and ELISA for HIV testing?

n for ur info ECLIA stands for Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). It has offered me by one of the  largest laboratory http://Ranbaxy in india. 

waiting for ur kind answer sir.........................

[Andy Velez]

Roltu, yes it is a perfectly reliable test.

You haven't mentioned what your risk was for HIV transmission. As long as you test negative at 13 weeks after the most recent risky incident you will have a conclusive and reliable result.

[roltu]

first of all thanx a lot sir for the info..

Actually I m roaming through this forum from many days after an incident happend to me before joining the forum, especially ur posts n ann's post made me so comfortable I can't describe in word,you people are too good.

well my story is, I m a 22 yr old guy from India who has first time made a mistake in his life by going to a sex worker for pleasure. Though I had used a condom which I took there of my own n as far I can recall it was not broken, n I didn't even ejaculate inside her vagina.I was inside her  for not more than 10 minutes. I know u people will say that this is no risk situation n it doesn't warrant testing. But my extreme paranoid mind can't rest in peace as this is my first ever sexual encounter in life. so from the night of the encounter I m just going through a severe trauma.So I had decided to go for testing.

the incident occurred  on 4th march,2010, after that I went through the series of test mentioned below.

1. after 18 days I have done p24 antigen test
   result->Negative
2. after 26 days I have done dna pcr and antibody test by eclia method
   result->both came back negative
3. at day 41 I have done hiv antibody test and western blot
   result->both came back negative

symptoms so far

1. dry cough from the next day which is coming and going.
2.a single tounge ulcer in 3rd week  and muscle aches specially in leg and hand,both stay for 1 week then gone
3. after that bumpy pimples like rash in chest which are scattered and placed in single, I can count them
4.tiredness is always there may be due to extreme anxiety n panic

Its 7 weeks going on rash still not going,till now no fever no lymph node,I have sore throat or not I don't know as I never feel any problem in eating.

whenever I try to not worry about the incident n hiv n want to convince my self I don't have that then again this symptoms driving my mind crazy n make me feel very worried.

Andy can I trust on my day 41 antibody test? n the negative pcr n p24 antigen ??

whenever I try to convi

[Andy Velez]

It's no surprise that all of your results have been negative. And you are certain to continue to test negative. As you already know logically that you did not have a risk. But logic is different from emotions.

Becoming active sexually can be exciting and also very anxiety-provoking as  you are finding out. Just make sure to always use a condom for vaginal or anal intercourse and you will be well protected as far as HIV is concerned.

Your symptoms are something you should discuss with your doctor if they persist. Unfortunately right now you are busily misinterpreting everything that happens to your body as another sign of an HIV you don't have.

You can continue to test to 13 weeks for your peace of mind although I have no doubt you continue to get negative results.

Cheers.

[roltu]

Thanx a lot andy again, Ya I knw logically its not possible bt yet I can't convience myself. though I tested negative at six weeks but yet the 13 weeks things n this symptoms not leaving me. ya I will test at 13 weeks for the peace of mind. well can u tell me as 6 week =42 days so is there any virtual difference in testing result in 41 and 42 days coz I have done it at day 41??

[Andy Velez]

No difference.

[roltu]

thanx , so I can trust on my 6 week negative test right? as it is highly unlikely to change.I will post here after my 13 weeks test. n thanx a lot for ur valuable words.

[Andy Velez]

Yes, you can trust that result. And collecting another of the same at 13 weeks is a certainty. 

[roltu]

Hi andy,ann,teak and other experts plz help me.I am dying of anxiety........

I have done the following antibody test at 7 weeks

Test Description:-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vidas-bioMerieux-France (Hiv 1& 2 antibody Elisa)

Reference Range:-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reactive if  OD>0.41 OD
Non-Reactive if OD<0.40 OD

My Result:-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Results came back 0.074 OD,that is <0.40 OD, which they stated Non-reactive.

Now the frightening part it is  supposed to come back 0 OD right?Do 0 OD never comes in this test?0.074 OD which is negative though but is that mean I have still hiv specific antibody present  in my body?I am in great confusion,Plz need urgent help who have knowledge about this test plz help me.Do that mean anything or its just their own range of declaring things.....plz help

[Matty the Damned]

Hi andy,ann,teak and other experts plz help me.I am dying of anxiety........

I have done the following antibody test at 7 weeks

Test Description:-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vidas-bioMerieux-France (Hiv 1& 2 antibody Elisa)

Reference Range:-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reactive if  OD>0.41 OD
Non-Reactive if OD<0.40 OD

My Result:-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Results came back 0.074 OD,that is <0.40 OD, which they stated Non-reactive.

Now the frightening part it is  supposed to come back 0 OD right?Do 0 OD never comes in this test?0.074 OD which is negative though but is that mean I have still hiv specific antibody present  in my body?I am in great confusion,Plz need urgent help who have knowledge about this test plz help me.Do that mean anything or its just their own range of declaring things.....plz help

0.074 is within the range for a negative result. Your 7 week test result is negative and reliably negative as you were not at risk.

If you test again at 13 weeks, the result will also be negative.

At this point I would suggest that you read our Welcome Thread and review the posting guidelines.

You will not be permitted make endless posts regarding a non-risk situation.

MtD

[roltu]

plz give an appropriate answer sir,

is that no one ever get a 0.0 OD result in that mention test?? is that OD count nothing to do with hiv antibody??do all get some kind of OD count whoever do this kind of test??  plz plz clarify  sir...

the thing which is freaking me out that at this 8 week m suffering form a bad cold,nasal congestion,coughing and a low grade fever 98.5 .yesterday it went to 99 for a moment then its come down to 98.5-98.6 and stuck there.

[Andy Velez]

1. Those are not HIV-specific symptoms. Discuss them with your doctor if they persist.

2. You never actually had a risk for HIV. So testing is not necessary. If you continue testing it is strictly for your peace of mind and a negative result is a certainty.

3. If you continue returning here requesting more attention over a non-risk incident. you will very quickly find yourself getting a 28 day Time Out from the site.

4. I urge you to consider talking with a counselor or other mental health professional about your unwarranted fears about HIV. we can't help you with that need in this setting.

[roltu]

hi

m worried yet again, after u people said that I had not at a risk to begin with, I tried a lot to forget about the incident , bt my non ending symptoms forced me to went for an hiv antibody test at 9th week, I went to a big n most prestigious hospital here in India, so I first talked with a counsellor,she first told me that I m worrying needlessly n I don't need any test,bt after insisting her for a hiv test she ordered an hiv antibody test n a cd4/cd8 count test. after 2 days of 9th week I got my antibody result back n the result came back Non-Reactive, bt they told me that I have to wait for 10 days to get the cd4/cd8 result,I was then quite relaxed as my 9th week antibody test came negative n not ever concerned with the cd4/cd8 test,bt 2 days back when I got my cd4/cd8 result my mind gone crazy like hell,

the result m describing below as per stated in my result

test     my result       normal range

cd4      458               400-1650
cd8      531               220  1000 someting
cd3      1100             720-3000 someting
cd4%   39.5%           20-59%
cd8%   45%              forgot the lowest range,highest was 48% most probably
cd4/cd8 0.9              0.9-1.6

The test was taken at 10:30 am morning, my cd4 is low,cd8 is rising, wot the hell is all that meaning, m I infected or m I still seroconverting at 9 th week, ar my all antibody test false negative,6th,7th,8th,9th???even my dna pcr n p24 antigen,,

the cd4 count is low that means are my immune system is suppressed though even I don't smoke,drink,  don't take drug n m not a cancer patient,this means my body is not creating antibody even after 9 week..I m crying all the day, m suffering from extreme fatigue n light headed,sometimes I get temp of 99 degree f, bt it only stay for 1-2 hours.

plz help me,plz m dying with fear.............my eyes are all tearful........m the only child of my parents n m just 22.

[Matty the Damned]

hi

m worried yet again, after u people said that I had not at a risk to begin with, I tried a lot to forget about the incident , bt my non ending symptoms forced me to went for an hiv antibody test at 9th week, I went to a big n most prestigious hospital here in India, so I first talked with a counsellor,she first told me that I m worrying needlessly n I don't need any test,bt after insisting her for a hiv test she ordered an hiv antibody test n a cd4/cd8 count test. after 2 days of 9th week I got my antibody result back n the result came back Non-Reactive, bt they told me that I have to wait for 10 days to get the cd4/cd8 result,I was then quite relaxed as my 9th week antibody test came negative n not ever concerned with the cd4/cd8 test,bt 2 days back when I got my cd4/cd8 result my mind gone crazy like hell,

the result m describing below as per stated in my result

test     my result       normal range

cd4      458               400-1650
cd8      531               220  1000 someting
cd3      1100             720-3000 someting
cd4%   39.5%           20-59%
cd8%   45%              forgot the lowest range,highest was 48% most probably
cd4/cd8 0.9              0.9-1.6

The test was taken at 10:30 am morning, my cd4 is low,cd8 is rising, wot the hell is all that meaning, m I infected or m I still seroconverting at 9 th week, ar my all antibody test false negative,6th,7th,8th,9th???even my dna pcr n p24 antigen,,

the cd4 count is low that means are my immune system is suppressed though even I don't smoke,drink,  don't take drug n m not a cancer patient,this means my body is not creating antibody even after 9 week..I m crying all the day, m suffering from extreme fatigue n light headed,sometimes I get temp of 99 degree f, bt it only stay for 1-2 hours.

plz help me,plz m dying with fear.............my eyes are all tearful........m the only child of my parents n m just 22.

You do not have HIV. You were not at risk and your negative HIV antibody test confirms that.

The blood test results you have posted above are all quite normal and what we would expect to see in someone who is HIV negative.

I think your time and money would be better spent speaking with a counsellor than pursuing more tests you simply do not need.

As you have been told previously, you will not be permitted to use this forum to post obsessively about non-risk situations. Please read our Welcome Thread and review the posting guidelines.

MtD

[roltu]

thanx a lot matty,

bt plz request u to answer elaborately my below few questions,I will not ask again..plzzzzzzz

1. bt is not cd4 count is quite low respect to average, bt cd4 percentage is good as i heard that hiv neg person has cd4% of around 40% mine is 39.5%, bt isn't the cd8% is little high??

2. which should I believe the cd4% or cd4 count which is appropriate??

3. does the count vary from day to day or lab to lab??

4.do low cd4 means suppressed immune system n take much time to create antibodies to hiv than regular??

plz do clarify n enlighten me, I will not ask again..............

[Matty the Damned]

thanx a lot matty,

bt plz request u to answer elaborately my below few questions,I will not ask again..plzzzzzzz

1. bt is not cd4 count is quite low respect to average, bt cd4 percentage is good as i heard that hiv neg person has cd4% of around 40% mine is 39.5%, bt isn't the cd8% is little high??

2. which should I believe the cd4% or cd4 count which is appropriate??

3. does the count vary from day to day or lab to lab??

4.do low cd4 means suppressed immune system n take much time to create antibodies to hiv than regular??

plz do clarify n enlighten me, I will not ask again..............

I have answered your questions already. All you need to know is this:

1. You were not at risk of HIV infection in the first place.
2. You do not have HIV.
3. Your negative HIV antibody test result confirms this.
4. The other blood test results are consistent with you being HIV negative, that is they are within normal clinical ranges.

Oh, yeah there's one other thing. I've referred this thread to our Moderators for review as you are in breach of the posting guidelines I linked you to in my earlier post.

MtD

[roltu]

why can't u understand my simple question?? I just need the clarification about the cd4/cd8 thus I can educate myself about this kind of test n easily interpret future result of mine or others who need help, I believe in ur words n other experts that I had no risk n I really respect u people a lot, bt need ur kind help so plz do clarify about the test,n I shall never ask or irritate u people.............

[Matty the Damned]

why can't u understand my simple question?? I just need the clarification about the cd4/cd8 thus I can educate myself about this kind of test n easily interpret future result of mine or others who need help, I believe in ur words n other experts that I had no risk n I really respect u people a lot, bt need ur kind help so plz do clarify about the test,n I shall never ask or irritate u people.............

I do understand your "simple question" and I have answered the damned thing.

Your test results (including the CD4:CD8 ratio) are within the normal clinical range.

MtD

[roltu]

thanx again matty,

bt I can't understand why is it in the lower side of the range?? is that mean my next text at 12 week is going to be postive? , or can a low cd4 suppress the immune system n prevent to create antibodies?

[RapidRod]

   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.

[roltu]

hi andy,

I can't get any informative answer regarding my last question abt cd4 test, can u plz elaborate something about this matter, plz sir m really waiting for a kind answer..I m currently feeling very week, n so nervous that my 12 week test is going to come positive............waiting for ur kind reply sir

[Andy Velez]

Fortunately feelings are not facts. A negative test result is a fact. You have reliably tested negative for HIV.

If you have concerns about your health that is something to discuss with your doctor.

It is not our job to respond repeatedly to your concerns about details of your CD count. If you continue to return with concerns about your status when we know you're negative, you are going to get a Time Out from the site. Consider yourself warned.

[roltu]

Hi , this is roltu. I m worried all over again after an incident with a CSW  2 weeks ago, last year you people (specially Andy,Ann) helped me with my anxiety after had an protected incident with a CSW. bt today m again facing the head breaking anxiety after a non exposure incident, 2 weeks ago I had lip kissed a CSW, it was just 2-3 times lip to lip (closed mouth) kissing, and also got scratched on my arm while she roaming with her hand in my body. Now m worried regarding HIV as I got some rashes 1 week later after the occasion  in my right rib and few in back.(during the lip kiss i had some cut on my lip bt not bleeding) . Please help me , m freaking frighten with the rashes.

[Andy Velez]

First of all, I have merged your threads here. Please follow our rule and keep all entries in this same thread.

Once again you are worrying with absolutely no basis in HIV science. The only confirmed risks for the sexual transmission of HIV are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. Period. That's it.

We're not going to do another round of worries and what ifs over this kissing incident. Kissing is not a risk for HIV. It's not who are you with sexually but what you do that matters. As long as you always use condoms for intercourse you will be well protected.

You've been given all the information that you need to protect yourself. If you return again with this kind of non-risk stuff you are going to find yourself getting a Time Out from the site. Consider yourself warned.

[roltu]

Hi Andy/Ann,

                     Hope you people are doing well. I have a query actually that is after having protected sex I have test for hiv antibody and dna pcr out of panic at the 7.1 week mark and it came out negative. As I knew I was at zero risk so I was ok with the result. But exactly 2 weeks after drawing my blood for the last test I got typical symptoms like, tingling sensation in lower teeth along with canker sore, loose bowel syndrome and leg pain and some cold sensation sometimes paryicularly when i m in air conditioned room. Now m worrying by looking at the time frame and the symptoms about the blood drawn incident. Is it possible to get hiv from blood draw? I m in severe panic after this . I need a scientific explanation whether it is possible to get infected during blood draw in any clinic. please help

[Ann]

Roltul,

NO, you are NOT going to become infected from the blood draw. You're letting your imagination run wild. Stop it.

Ann

[roltu]

Thanks Ann, for ur quick response, then how come drug user got that from needle use? and one thing do you think that my symptoms which I have mentioned is the typical that is consistent with ars, please do tell

[roltu]

Hi Ann,

            I want a last reassurance, Do I really need testing over this testing episode? Is there anyway anyhow chance of getting infected through blood draw in clinic even if it is reused, some one told me that a vacutainer used in lab have no ability to inject anything in vein as its sole purpose is to withdraw blood, so as long there is no injection there is no possibility of getting infected is this true?. I am asking this because its been 36 days n m going through a sore throat with mild cough along with diarrhea, However the canker sore is gone after using of listerine, though I have no fever, rash . please tell me something reassuring, as I am very much terrified with this symptom. 

[Andy Velez]

Discuss your "symptoms" with your doctor if they persist.

As in the past you once again have not had a risk for HIV. If you return again about the same thing I can guarantee you will get a Time Out.

HIV is not your problem. It's your unfounded concerns that are the problem. We can't help you with that here. Get some professional help if you can't let go of these totally unfounded fears.