Serodia Particle Agglutination - HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody test reliable?

[dizzyboy]

Is the Serodia particle agglutination - HIV-1/HIV-2 test reliable and accurate?

I took that test 100 days post possible exposure (14 weeks, 2 days) and came out negative. As with the people who simply cannot accept a negative result at 13 weeks or so, i sometimes flip out and think what if im still in the window period, etc etc. it sucks, i know. im even planning to get another test, this time a 3rd generation ELISA but also stopping myself and saying to myself that im too paranoid.

my risky escapade: protected intercourse w/ a female sex worker, condom did not break, unprotected receptive oral sex, kissing too.

symptoms: spots on left foot from an injury that hasnt gone away for almost 4 months, hairy whitish tongue with a depapillated area. have gone to doctors for both and for the spots = doctor says they may be bruise "stains" - gave me whitening complex a month ago - no visible effect; for the tongue, ENT hasnt made any diagnosis yet but told me to take multi-vitamins (which i havent been doing for almost a year - possible vitamin deficiency), use tongue scraper, drink plenty of water (i've had dry mouth/chapped lips even before) gargle with mouthwash - all in the course of 2 weeks, and then a follow-up visit to see the results. asked him if it's an infection, he says, "i dont think so".

it's weird that sometimes when you think you have HIV you suddenly see "symptoms". this may be valid, but hopefully, im just imagining things.

so going back, is a 14-week, 2-day, negative result using Serodia PA - HIV1/2 rapid screening test reliable and conclusive? the country im in is official at 6-months. in singapore though, they are firm w/ 3 months. i even called up the hotline of DSC (singapore disease control) and told them that some suggest 6 months, and the guy just said, "No, 3 months."

i dont want to test and  be filled w/ the anxiety of waiting anymore  but more importantly, i dont want to have the anxiety of worrying everytime i see "symptoms".

thanks to you all

[DingoBoi]

It sometimes amazes me that people can get so wound up in the versions of a test (some of you know more about the individual tests than even I do)

What I can tell you is that ANY test is conclusive after 13 weeks.

What also amazes me is that some people can know so much about the tests themselves but have a COMPLETE lack of understanding on transmission risks....and nothing you did was in any way risky for hiv transmission

Protected sex = no risk
Unprotected receptive oral = no risk
kissing = no risk

and that's NO RISK... not low risk.

People are not risky, unprotected anal/vaginal is.  Doesn't matter if she was a prostitute or not.

Symptoms mean absolutely NOTHING in terms of your status.

You didn't need to EVER test in the first place over this incident which was completely NO RISK.

[Ann]

Dizzy,

As Dingo says, you have tested conclusively negative for a NO risk situation. No big surprise there. Stop looking at your body through the lens of hiv - you do not have hiv.

Also, please read through the Welcome Thread at the top of this forum for links to the Lessons and so you can familiarize yourself with the posting guidelines you are expected to follow when posting to this forum. Thank you for your cooperation in not hijacking any more threads. Please keep all your additional thoughts or questions in THIS thread.

Ann

[dizzyboy]

Thanks for putting it in a clearer perspective. I have peace of mind now, and am sleeping better.

Im not gonna worry about the outdated 6 month window period.

cheers