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What Does My Lab Test Report Indicate?
Question: To be answered by Dr.S XXXXXXX
Sir as you already know my case my high risk exposure was in Nov 2013 and my 1 st test( tridot 3 Rd generation)was in may 2015,2 nd test July 2016( 4 rth generation ag/ ab test) and 3 Rd test was in March 2017 by the same 4 rth generation test and all were non- reactive.And all along I was on several medications like ORGAMED/MEPRATE/PROVERA/DRONIS 30/METFORMIN/SYNTHROID/CLOMIPHENE CITRATE/ANTI- HISTAMINES /PRENATALS(folic acid and vit d supplements ( for conditions like PCOS,HYPOTHROIDISM,INFERTILITY AND POLLEN ALLERGY .I was on all these drugs ON AND OFF from XXXXXXX 2007 till MARCH 2017 (and my exposure was in Nov 2013)some at the time of testing and some inbetween tests.so my question to you sir is DO I NEED PCR (VIRAL LOAD TEST) AFTER 2 NON-REACTIVE 4 RTH GENERATION TESTS 3 YEARS POST EXPOSURE?i was on VERTIGO DRUGS AS WELL.WILL THEY HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON THE HIV TESTS? THANK YOU
Sir as you already know my case my high risk exposure was in Nov 2013 and my 1 st test( tridot 3 Rd generation)was in may 2015,2 nd test July 2016( 4 rth generation ag/ ab test) and 3 Rd test was in March 2017 by the same 4 rth generation test and all were non- reactive.And all along I was on several medications like ORGAMED/MEPRATE/PROVERA/DRONIS 30/METFORMIN/SYNTHROID/CLOMIPHENE CITRATE/ANTI- HISTAMINES /PRENATALS(folic acid and vit d supplements ( for conditions like PCOS,HYPOTHROIDISM,INFERTILITY AND POLLEN ALLERGY .I was on all these drugs ON AND OFF from XXXXXXX 2007 till MARCH 2017 (and my exposure was in Nov 2013)some at the time of testing and some inbetween tests.so my question to you sir is DO I NEED PCR (VIRAL LOAD TEST) AFTER 2 NON-REACTIVE 4 RTH GENERATION TESTS 3 YEARS POST EXPOSURE?i was on VERTIGO DRUGS AS WELL.WILL THEY HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON THE HIV TESTS? THANK YOU
Brief Answer:
You are free from HIV infection. No further test is necessary
Detailed Answer:
Hi xxxxxxxx,
Welcome once again to HCM.
No drug can interfere or delay the antibody formation of HIV in the presence of an infection more than 6 months after the exposure. As you had repeated nonreactive tests even 4 years after the exposure, that too with very sensitive and specific 4th generation tests, you don't need any more test with regards to the detection of HIV unless you have a recent fresh exposure (including HIV PCR Viral load test - which has to be done if infection detected only to know about the severity).
Dr S.Murugan
You are free from HIV infection. No further test is necessary
Detailed Answer:
Hi xxxxxxxx,
Welcome once again to HCM.
No drug can interfere or delay the antibody formation of HIV in the presence of an infection more than 6 months after the exposure. As you had repeated nonreactive tests even 4 years after the exposure, that too with very sensitive and specific 4th generation tests, you don't need any more test with regards to the detection of HIV unless you have a recent fresh exposure (including HIV PCR Viral load test - which has to be done if infection detected only to know about the severity).
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Sir generally in hiv what are considered to be confirmatory tests ? What does "confirmatory testing"mean ? is there a confirmatory test after a non reactive(4 th generation) test result ? What tests will they do when they say confirmatory tests? and another question is for eg: if they test a patient twice, 1 st test 3 weeks after high risk exposure with 4 rth generation test and that comes back non - reactive and the second test 3 months after exposure with the same 4 rth generation test. Will this second test be the confirmatory test or will they test second time with a different test ??? Please explain in detail about this example as well. Thank you
Brief Answer:
You need no further test for HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again.
All the tests available in the market are highly sensitive and specific as far as HIV is concerned up to the extent of more than 97%. Especially 4th generation HIV tests are confirmatory to the extent of 99%, 12 weeks after the exposure. When the patient had two non reactive reports with two different types of tests 12 weeks after the exposure, they can be considered as conclusive to the extent of 100% as per World health organization.
Western blot is considered to be more confirmatory as it detects multiple HIV antibodies whereas other tests are detecting only one of the antibody against HIV. I hope you got the answers for your doubts.
Dr S.Murugan
You need no further test for HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again.
All the tests available in the market are highly sensitive and specific as far as HIV is concerned up to the extent of more than 97%. Especially 4th generation HIV tests are confirmatory to the extent of 99%, 12 weeks after the exposure. When the patient had two non reactive reports with two different types of tests 12 weeks after the exposure, they can be considered as conclusive to the extent of 100% as per World health organization.
Western blot is considered to be more confirmatory as it detects multiple HIV antibodies whereas other tests are detecting only one of the antibody against HIV. I hope you got the answers for your doubts.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Sir I started to volunteer for a helpline so I am trying to gather information as much as I can so sir can u please list the different types of screening tests and followup/ confirmatory tests available. Is western blot the confirmatory test for 4 rth generation ag/ab test ?? Your efforts will be appreciated. Thank you
Brief Answer:
All the tests are highly reliable after appropriate window period.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
HIV tests are three types:
1. Antigen detecting: P24 Antigen test, DNA PCR test, Qualitative and Quantitative RNA PCR tests, These will detect the presence of infection as early as 7 days after the infection and considered conclusive by 3-4 weeks after the exposure.
2. Antibody detecting test: Rapid tests, ELISA TEST, Western blot tests, Chemilumnescence tests etc. These will become confirmatory after 12 weeks.
3. 4th generation COMBO or DUO tests a combination of both.
I never go for Western blot tests in all cases. I rely on rapid tests and clinical examination and history. When it becomes positive I will confirm with RNA PCR quantitative test. This will be baseline test to start treatment as well as confirmatory test.
Dr S.Murugan
All the tests are highly reliable after appropriate window period.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
HIV tests are three types:
1. Antigen detecting: P24 Antigen test, DNA PCR test, Qualitative and Quantitative RNA PCR tests, These will detect the presence of infection as early as 7 days after the infection and considered conclusive by 3-4 weeks after the exposure.
2. Antibody detecting test: Rapid tests, ELISA TEST, Western blot tests, Chemilumnescence tests etc. These will become confirmatory after 12 weeks.
3. 4th generation COMBO or DUO tests a combination of both.
I never go for Western blot tests in all cases. I rely on rapid tests and clinical examination and history. When it becomes positive I will confirm with RNA PCR quantitative test. This will be baseline test to start treatment as well as confirmatory test.
Dr S.Murugan
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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