[Question #11767] Dr Hook !! #11724
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12 months ago
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Thanks again for answering my questions. I am just giving ASHA a bonus $25 with this one, but I wanted to make sure I understood something correctly in question # 11724…In the last response from you .. and I quote..
“ Thank you for sharing your results. While I'm not surprised I'm pleased for your results. I think your plans to move forward without concerns regarding HIV-2 is a great strategy.”
This is silly but being that your answer means the world to me, I wanted to make sure I understand …. Was there supposed to be a comma after you said ( I’m not surprised ) ? I get confused on sentences sometimes and without a comma after the word surprised, the sentence just doesn’t seem to make sense to me…. I’m sure you just forgot to put a comma from the way it sounds…. but I just needed to verify because my mind started trying to wonder….. I figured you might have just forgot to put the comma there so I just wanted to ask you. And one other thing.. if I was wanting to donate to ASHA on like a yearly basis , How would I do that ?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
12 months ago
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Please don’t be distracted by the absence of a comma. You do not have HIV-1 or HIV-2. I encourage you to move forward without concern as you said you plan to do.
Donations to ASHA can be accomplished through the American Sexual Health Association web site.
Take care. EWH
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11 months ago
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I tried not to even ask because I feel it’s a silly question.. I was going to write another question, but I wasn’t guaranteed Dr.HHH was going to be the one to answer. I know this quote is from Dr. HHH , but being you two have worked so close together, I know you will be able to tell me what he means and ease my mind. In question # 4476 ….. he says “ The numerical result is meaningless as long as it is below the cut-off for a positive result. With rare exceptions, when the cut-off ELISA ratio is 0.9, for example, results of 0.1, 0.4, 0,6, or 0.8 all are equally negative.“.
All of my 4th generation HIV tests have been negative and I have never seen a numerical result. All mine have just said “ Not detected, Non reactive , or Negative. . I’m just wanting to know what he means when he says “ With rare exceptions”.
What would be the rare exceptions when any of the numerical results that are below 0.9, not equally negative ? Just when he says that “ with rare exceptions “, it seems like he is saying there would be chances of a negative combi test result not being negative. I just want to make sure I can still trust my negative 4th generation HIV results, know they are conclusive, and also know that I don’t need anymore tests to prove I am HIV negative
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
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You can certainly trust your negative results. Dr. Handsfield said "with rare exceptions" because in science, one can never say never because new discoveries occur every day. The reason for the fluctuations in negative values with repeated tests reflect chemical variations in reactions which occur with changes in temperature, batch to batch variations in the chemical mixtures, etc. This is something that we're used to but raise unnecessary alarm is some of our clients.
Please, trust your negative tests. It's time to move forward EWH
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11 months ago
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Thank you doc. I fully understand now. I do have one last question on a previous question from years ago ( it was a different username than the one I have now because I had forgotten the passwords and stuff ). It’s very silly but I have read everything else and once you answer this I am out of here and moving on. In question # 7432 at the end you replied “ Please except your test results, believe that you did not acquire HIV in your exposure nearly 5 years ago and move forward. I encourage you to continue working with your therapist.“. I just need to know when you said in there
“ Please except “ , that you meant to say “ Please ACCEPT your test results “. I know it’s OCD but just wanted to make sure so I can move on and never come back with any questions. Please don’t be upset with me. Thank you for everything.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
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I apologize. Sometimes I have the opportunity to dictate my responses and words get substituted. In the sentence you mention above, the word "except" was substituted for the word "accept".
I really think you are overthinking this. It's long past time for you to put any fears about having HIV aside and move forward.
You mentioned that this is your last question. The thread will be closed shortly. There really should be no need to return to the Forum> It's time to move on. EWH
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11 months ago
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Thank you doc. I knew it meant to be “ Accept “. Thank you for clarifying. Take care.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
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Your welcome- closing the thread now. EWH---