POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: kelly on January 07, 2009, 07:51:14 pm

Title: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on January 07, 2009, 07:51:14 pm
The British HIV Association; the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and the British Infection Society have published new testing guidelines for HIV in the UK 2008.

The consensus advice recommends the use of an HIV DUO test (4th generation combination antibody and p24 antigen) as a first line test because it has the advantage of reducing the window period to one month (28 days).

I found this posted on the freedomhealth web page,and wondered what the moderater opinions were,I had protected vaginal sex with a guy(im a girl)but cant stop worrying about this,ive had a 15day a
nd a 9.5 week negative 4th generation tests.

http://www.freedomhealth.co.uk/

Kelly
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: RapidRod on January 07, 2009, 08:02:14 pm
We go by the US testing guidelines.
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: Andy Velez on January 07, 2009, 08:06:23 pm
We continue to go with the CDC recommendation of testing at 13 weeks with a standard test to confirm HIV status. Any generation of test will give a reliable result at that point. 

Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: RapidRod on January 07, 2009, 08:10:18 pm
The guideline is at http://www.bashh.org/documents/1838   UK window period is 3m, BASHH, UK HIV Testing Guidelines '08

To summarise, references to 6 month windows have been removed, a three month guideline is in effect for a definitive exclusion and there is acknowledgemnent of near-universal use of 4th generation (combined Antibody and Antigen) tests.

4.4. Which Test to use.

The recommended first-line assay is one which tests for HIV antibody AND p24 antigen simultaneously.
These are termed fourth generation assays, and have the advantage of reducing the time between
infection and testing HIV positive to ONE MONTH which is one to two weeks earlier than with sensitive third
generation (antibody only detection) assays [22]. It is reasonable to expect universal provision of these
assays, although they are not offered by all primary screening laboratories.

Section 6 Post test discussion

Post-test discussion for individuals who test HIV negative

The need for a repeat HIV test if still within the window period after a specific exposure should be
discussed. Although fourth generation tests shorten the time from exposure to seroconversion a repeat test
at three months is still recommended to definitively exclude HIV infection.
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: Ann on January 08, 2009, 03:55:23 am
Kelly,

Protected intercourse is NOT a risk for hiv infection. Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection.

You ARE hiv negative. You did not have a risk and your test result is conclusive.

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 with 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.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED FURTHER TESTING OVER THIS PROTECTED INCIDENT, 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.

Keep using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will continue to avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

And by the way, Freedom Health is a private, for profit outfit. There is no reason to use them when you can go to your local GUM clinic for free. Freedom Health claims to be more discreet than the NHS, but there are confidentiality laws in the UK and GUM clinics ARE discreet. FH just wants your money.

Ann
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on January 08, 2009, 05:05:31 am
Thanks for pointing that out to me Teak why is this clinic allowed to make such statments if they are untrue is he not playing russian roulette with peoples lives?

I have posted qusetions to the DR on the website and questioned his reasoning to 4 weeks and he didnt post it I now know why.

I have become so paranoid about this Ann I have got to thinkin that he purposely put a pinhole in the condom,so just for argument sake say there was a risk what would be the chances of a 9.5 negative Duo changing?

Kelly
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: Ann on January 08, 2009, 05:10:30 am
Kelly,

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six weeks. So no, I would not expect your negative result to change, even if you did have a risk. You didn't  have a risk. People really don't go around putting pins in condoms.

Ann
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on January 08, 2009, 05:15:20 am
Teak here is what the dr reply to what I put to him.I think its terrible that he is allowed to let people think at 4weeks they are in the clear.


Hello,

Thank you for the question - its a good one.

Its all in the wording - and consistent with our position. We have always maintained - and you can browse through all our Forum responses - that if there is a high risk episode (identified by us,not the patient who's perception is very often different) and a high index of suspicion then a further test needs to be done and we encourage it.

This is also entirely consistent with the paragraph you identify :-

The need for a repeat HIV test if still within the window period after a specific exposure should be
discussed. Although fourth generation tests shorten the time from exposure to seroconversion a repeat test
at three months is still recommended to definitively exclude HIV infection.

A specific exposure in our considered view - which includes doctors with a combined exposure to HIV and diagnosis of in excess of a hundred years with huge numbers of individual tests - is a high risk exposure not the majority of minimal but percieved risk.

You may not agree with it but thats our stance and so far, in our combined enormous experience it has been borne out.

Best regards, Sean
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: RapidRod on January 08, 2009, 05:32:42 am
Had you had a risk, the above UK guidelines are the 2008 guidelines posted for the UK.  They are no different from the CDC guidelines here in the States.
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on January 08, 2009, 03:33:51 pm
Guys, i promise this will be my last post.Has anybody seen a 9.5 week negative duo test turn positive?

An Answer from you all would realllllly help ease my worries.

Kel
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: anniebc on January 08, 2009, 03:50:10 pm
Kelly

Only a small group of people seroconvert after the 13 week window period, this group includes those who are receiving immuno-suppressive therapy after transplant procedures, cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy and long term injecting drug users.

You didn't have a risk so you have nothing to worry about, it's time for you to move with your life, and reember condoms at all times for vaginal/anal intercourse..NO EXCEPTIONS.

Jan
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on January 09, 2009, 03:10:29 am
Hi Annie,

thats the problem in struggling to get on with it as ive become so paranoid ive got it into my head he purposely put a pin hole in the condom.So that why in trying to figure out if he did what my chances would be after having a just over 2 week nrgative and 9.5 week negative of it turning positive.

And just knowing that nobody from here has seen a 9.5 week negative turn positive would help me get on with things.

Kelly
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: Ann on January 09, 2009, 05:45:06 am
Kelly,

I've yet to see a SIX week negative turn positive, let alone a nine week.

I don't expect your result to change, not least because YOU DIDN'T HAVE A RISK!

And you know something, guys DO NOT put holes in condoms. Why bother when they can just refuse to wear the damned thing? If this guy wanted to infect you with something, he would have talked you out of condom use or just not bothered to get your consent at all over condoms. Wise up and get a grip.

Ann
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on January 09, 2009, 08:35:16 am
Thanks you for the tough talking Ann thats just i needed a virtual kick up the arse.

Take care

Kelly
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on January 25, 2009, 01:41:14 pm
Hi I just came across a post from a member who is hiv positive who says he didnt test positive until over 10 weeks post exposure how often does this happen?This has scared the s**** out of me.
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: RapidRod on January 25, 2009, 01:59:31 pm
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.
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on January 25, 2009, 02:09:10 pm
Rapid Rod,i am sorry I it was just that I have read a lot of posts where people say they used condoms and still got HIV so please understand how scared this has made me I thought I was ok until i read this.Im Sorry
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: RapidRod on January 25, 2009, 02:19:24 pm
No one that has used latex or poly condoms correctly and consistently have ever contracted HIV. It doesn't and won't happen. PERIOD...
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on January 25, 2009, 03:01:04 pm
My partners condom was still on at the end of the intercourse and i could see his fluid in the tip of the condom when we finished,also i kept feeling to make sure it was still on during the intercourse and it was does that sound like it was used correctley Rod.It was only one time and it wont be happening again.   
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: Andy Velez on January 25, 2009, 07:20:19 pm
Yes, the condom did exactly what it was supposed to you in your case. Seeing the sperm in it afterwards confirms that.

As for the reports of people who claim to have become infected sexually even though condoms were used -- those stories never hold up under careful scientific scrutiny. Stop looking for problems where there isn't one.

You have no cause to be concerned about HIV at this point. Keep using condoms everytime and you will be well protected as far as HIV risk.  Period.
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on February 08, 2009, 07:56:31 am
Ever since i found those cases where they say the didnt test positive till after 10 weeks has freaked me out big time,Rapidrod do u stiill stand by this post u made to some who asked what the chances of them becoming positive after a 10 week negative test?                                                                                                     


 Unless you fall in the category of being an IV drug user, or someone on immuno suppressive drugs. Then the answer would be zero.
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: RapidRod on February 08, 2009, 08:02:19 am
You come everyday to lirk on the other forums. Enough is enough. You didn't have a risk so move along.
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on February 08, 2009, 08:05:49 am
Im not lirking im just a young scared mum who is goin out of my mind looking for answers,i look to u with high regard and take u comments very serious,thats why i ask u this if u think my results could still chance after 9 and a half weeks im just scared
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: kelly on February 08, 2009, 08:08:15 am
I just wish i had waited till 12 weeks then i know i would have been able to put this to rest its the 2 weeks thats freaking me out.
Title: Re: What are you guys view on this
Post by: Ann on February 08, 2009, 08:10:55 am
Kelly,

Once again, you didn't have a risk. You've already tested conclusively hiv negative. Your result isn't going to change.

If you don't believe us, you are now outside the window period - go test again and collect your negative result.

You will not be permitted to continue to use this forum to wring your hands over this no-risk, conclusive negative situation. If you've read the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) like you're supposed to before posting, you will have read the following posting guideline:

Quote
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.

Please consider yourself warned for the last time.

Ann