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What Causes An Inconclusive HIV Test?
Question: how common are inconclusive results for HIV testing. My 20 yr old son is a little freaked out and has practiced safe sex , was told he needs to wait 3 months for another test. First MD had him tested for every STD as he thought he had a urinary tract infection that another MD Dx'd as prostitis.
Brief Answer:
very accurate once done after window period, very very small chance of erro
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The window period of a test is the time between infection and when a test can accurately detect if this infection is present.
If a test is done before the window period,there is a chance that it would be falsely negative. Once done after the window period, it is likely accurate.
There are different types of HIV tests with different window periods.
If he did one of the newer tests such as the 4 th generation tests which are very common now, the window period is 11 days to 1 month.
This means that after 1 month the test result is definitive and accurate. If done before this time there is a chance of error.
The rapid tests that look for antibodies (formed in the body in reaction to the virus), have a window period of 3 mths, this may the reason this time frame was mentioned.
If he wishes to be sure, he can do a 4 th generation test, once the time (1 month) has gone.
If he did have one of these done after the 1 month period then the result is conclusive
A urinary tract infection is an infection involving any aspect of the urinary tract.
This includes the prostate , prostatitis is one kind of urinary tract infection.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
very accurate once done after window period, very very small chance of erro
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The window period of a test is the time between infection and when a test can accurately detect if this infection is present.
If a test is done before the window period,there is a chance that it would be falsely negative. Once done after the window period, it is likely accurate.
There are different types of HIV tests with different window periods.
If he did one of the newer tests such as the 4 th generation tests which are very common now, the window period is 11 days to 1 month.
This means that after 1 month the test result is definitive and accurate. If done before this time there is a chance of error.
The rapid tests that look for antibodies (formed in the body in reaction to the virus), have a window period of 3 mths, this may the reason this time frame was mentioned.
If he wishes to be sure, he can do a 4 th generation test, once the time (1 month) has gone.
If he did have one of these done after the 1 month period then the result is conclusive
A urinary tract infection is an infection involving any aspect of the urinary tract.
This includes the prostate , prostatitis is one kind of urinary tract infection.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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