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Is HIV RNA Test Done 11 Days Post Exposure Reliable?
Brief Answer:
Wait for 3-4 weeks if you want to test
Detailed Answer:
hi.
You may take an HIV RNA PCR test (Its a NAAT test i.e Nucleic Acid Amplification test and detects even minute amounts of circulating HIV nucleic acid material in blood). This test has a short incubation. period of 9-11 days and since its been 10-11 days since your contact and the window period is just past so you may go for it. I am not really sure about the other Nucleic acid test that you mentioned.
However the thing about most NAAT test is that they are not FDA approved screening tests and there results should always be followed up with other Ag and Antibody based screening tests. NAAT are highly sensitive (more than 99%)though not highly specific i.e they may have a high false positive rate (e.g HIV RNA pcr has a 5% false positive rate). Therefore the results of these tests are always later followed up with FDA approved screening tests e.g 4th generation HIV screening tests (HIV DUO test) which is a p24 Ag and anti- HIV antibody screening test. HIV DUO is approved and can be taken as early as 3-4 weeks. It is sensitive and highly specific test.
Regards
Wait for 3-4 weeks if you want to test
Detailed Answer:
hi.
You may take an HIV RNA PCR test (Its a NAAT test i.e Nucleic Acid Amplification test and detects even minute amounts of circulating HIV nucleic acid material in blood). This test has a short incubation. period of 9-11 days and since its been 10-11 days since your contact and the window period is just past so you may go for it. I am not really sure about the other Nucleic acid test that you mentioned.
However the thing about most NAAT test is that they are not FDA approved screening tests and there results should always be followed up with other Ag and Antibody based screening tests. NAAT are highly sensitive (more than 99%)though not highly specific i.e they may have a high false positive rate (e.g HIV RNA pcr has a 5% false positive rate). Therefore the results of these tests are always later followed up with FDA approved screening tests e.g 4th generation HIV screening tests (HIV DUO test) which is a p24 Ag and anti- HIV antibody screening test. HIV DUO is approved and can be taken as early as 3-4 weeks. It is sensitive and highly specific test.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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