Rapid test reliability

[b17xyz]

I have a concern about the reliability of Oraquick.. My last risky exposure was on September 2011.. In October and December last year (2012), I tested myself with Oraquick advance which is approved in USA.. I'm currently living in Russia and I purchased the devices from an online seller..

My concern is, the devices were transported far away from US to the seller in Russia so I wonder if the long period of delivery can affect the sensitivity of the device. The expiry date of the devices is June 2013 so they are still valid when I was using

Secondly, I am an Asian. What if the device can't detect Asian's antiHIV antibody?

Thirdly, both tests came back negative.. I did the oral swab test. I know that if only the line at C zone appeared, then I am negative. But I just couldn't understand the mechanism of the devices. I know that if the C line appear, then it means the igG antibody can be detected and it proves that adequate sample is added.. But what if the oral mucosal transudate only contains the normal IgG and not the IgG of HIV? Are they always gonna stay around each other - the normal IgG and HiV IgG? Maybe at the moment I swabbed my gums, the HiV antibodies were not around my gums... Please somebody clarify the mechanism to me.. Thank you

[Ann]

b,

None of the stuff you're worrying about matters. The tests you used are accurate and you are conclusively hiv negative.

You do NOT have hiv.

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 or more negative must be confirmed at the three month point, but is highly unlikely to change.

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

[RapidRod]

You did not buy the Oraquick test online in Russia. The Oraquick test is only approved in the US and cannot be shipped outside the US.