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How Long After HIV Test Being Negative Can Retest Be Done?
Dear doctors, this is male from mumbai, India this is with reference to my last exposure unprotected oral sex & protect vaginal sex with sex worker its been almost 52 days now i have taken following test. 1.HIV antibodies 1& 2 rapid test after 10 days - negative 2.HIV Antibodies by elisa after 21 days - Negative 3. p-24 antigen after 27 days - negative 4.Hiv antibodies by elisa -negative,Ausantigen-negative,VDRL-Non Reactive 5.HIV DUO-Non reactive,HIV1RNA PCR-not Detected after 42 days. My questions is here do u think i need any further testing regarding HIV & how accurate is these test @ that
Wed, 22 Oct 2014
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
Your HIV tests reveal that you are non-reactive, and you need not test any further for HIV.
HIV RNA PCR if negative at 2 weeks or more after a risky sexual encounter rules out HIV.
Similarly HIV DUO test at 28 days after a risky sexual encounter is taken as conclusive.
Since your HIV DUO test is negative at 42 days after sexual contact, therefore, it is conclusive in your case.
Antibody based tests (Rapid test, HIV ELISA) have a long window period and cannot be relied upon solely to rule out HIV, if performed early after a sexual encounter. Although most of the patients who are infected with HIV develop antibodies within a month of infection but a few may not have detectable antibodies till 3 months after exposure. Therefore your early tests with ELISA were too early to be conclusive.
Anyways, since you have tested with multiple types of HIV tests, I am able to establish with certainity that you are HIV negative.
To summarize: HIV PCR RNA and HIV DUO test status in your case can be taken as conclusive and you need not test any more for HIV.
Regards
Your HIV tests reveal that you are non-reactive, and you need not test any further for HIV.
HIV RNA PCR if negative at 2 weeks or more after a risky sexual encounter rules out HIV.
Similarly HIV DUO test at 28 days after a risky sexual encounter is taken as conclusive.
Since your HIV DUO test is negative at 42 days after sexual contact, therefore, it is conclusive in your case.
Antibody based tests (Rapid test, HIV ELISA) have a long window period and cannot be relied upon solely to rule out HIV, if performed early after a sexual encounter. Although most of the patients who are infected with HIV develop antibodies within a month of infection but a few may not have detectable antibodies till 3 months after exposure. Therefore your early tests with ELISA were too early to be conclusive.
Anyways, since you have tested with multiple types of HIV tests, I am able to establish with certainity that you are HIV negative.
To summarize: HIV PCR RNA and HIV DUO test status in your case can be taken as conclusive and you need not test any more for HIV.
Regards
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