Is HIV Ab/Ag Combo Test After 12 Weeks Of Exposure Accurate?

Posted on Tue, 13 Oct 2015

Question: Hi dr kakkar as yoh would know that i was worried about possible about hiv infection even though my risk was very less (since i used protection but had inprotected oral) i got tested after 5 weeks and inmediately after 3 months post exposure both were non reactive.. Im attaching the report and would like to know that is the test suffuciebt considering the window period against both hiv 1 and hiv 2 plus i got the sevind tesy at exactly 12 weeks after exposure ie 84 days do you think i need to give it again.. Please help me out as i am still a little nervous

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
This test is conclusive and no further testing is required

Detailed Answer:
Hi. Thank you for writing back.

I have reviewed the attached report. It is a an Hiv Ab/Ag combo test i.e it tests for both anti- Hiv type 1 & 2 Antibodies and P 24 Antigen.
All Hiv infected individuals will have detectable circulating antibodies at 12 Weeks. Therefore a negative antibody test Or an antigen/antibody combo test at 12 weeks rules out Hiv conclusively.
This test is conclusive in your case since it covers for the window period (i.e 12 weeks for an antibody based test) for detection of Hiv by an antibody based test.
So you can now completely stop worrying about Hiv.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (9 hours later)

Thanks doctor thats a huge relief and i wabt to personally thank you for your support during this period... Dr kakkar i do sometimes feel that im peeing a bit more than usual but not more than an average 5 6 times a day..alak there is sometimes a slight heavy feeling there as if pee is about to come sometimes but not always my blood report and urine report were absolutely fine and there id no irritation or pain while peeing also no marks or rashes down there so is there any other std related thing that i could possibly cause this

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your urinary symptoms are not related to any STD

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

I don't think that your urinary symptoms are related to an STD. I suggest that you talk to a urologist for more on this.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Sure dr kakkar i just wanted to see if there is any potential std but ill visit the urologist again after seeing a couple of days thanks for everything. Much respect and lesson learnt definitely

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Thank you

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for writing to us.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (5 hours later)

Dr kakkar sorry just one last thing the report ive sent you was the test i took 5 weeks post exposure the second test which i took after 12 weeks was also non reactive but it was elisa hiv combi pt roche cobas accuracy test and not the abbott architect my question is are both tests equally reliable and your original conments stat the same? I noticed the difference right now so just thought ill ask since i have a follow up left

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
They both are reliable

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Both are equally reliable 4th generation HIV screening tests.

Regards

Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D