I just wanted to gain some information regarding the tests I have just sent off to the lab, and their accuracy at this point in time please as I couldn’t see much on the forum regarding the specific tests I am doing, it may be they have different names in the USA and I want to make sure I understand the types of test they are properly.

I am now exactly 6 weeks and 1 day (43 days total) from the events referenced in question #12590

I have just sent off the following:

Elecsys HIV Duo Ag/Ab/p24 

Elecsys Syphilis ECLIA

(Finger prick blood tests)

As well as rectal and throat swabs/ urine tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea

In my previous answers dr HHH said I am essentially zero risk for the fluid based STD’s which I understand and am less worried about however confirmation of how conclusive my testing would be, should it be negative (which I am hoping for/expecting) at this time? - the testing website I use says 90 days as a conclusive window but after reading innumerable threads on this forum it seems that 6 weeks is generally very close to conclusive, especially with the low risk associated with hand-genital contact and that the 90 day estimate is over conservative, in my previous test results, there is a caveat that the test is highly accurate after 45 days and close to 100% at 8 weeks which is shorter than the 90 day period cited on the testing website anyway, however HIV is of less concern than syphillis in my mind.

Please do let me know and thank you as always for your help!

You were at little or no risk and I advised against any testing at all. However, the negative results -- and they WILL be negative -- for all the tests you list will be conclusive, including syphilis. Formerly common advice about 90 days for syphilis probably was valid for the older syphilis blood tests, specifically RPR or VDRL.  The newer tests based on ELISA and similar technologies are considered conclusive at 6 weeks. As for HIV, there is no difference in test reliability between the official 45 day advice and 42 days (6 weeks).

I'll be happy to confirm the negative results if you would like to tell me about them when available.

HHH, MD

I hope you are well Dr. Handsfield.

Just an update on my test results.

HIV 1/2 DUO (taken at 43 Days): Negative

Chlamydia urine/rectal and throat swab (Taken at 43 Days): Negative

Gonnorhea urine/rectal and throat swab (taken at 43 Days) Negative

Hep B Blood test (taken at 43 Days): Negative

These tests were all done via shl.uk 

Syphillis Igg/Igm EIA (veinous) (taken by private GP at 48 Days): Negative 

I was unable to get a sufficient fingerstick sample for the syphilis test via shl.uk and so opted for the above test via Londondoctorsclinic.co.uk (part of Spire healthcare)

I am not sure the lab in which the private GP uses but they seem to be above board and part of a larger private healthcare company, would you say these results are now conclusive and I can move on from this?

Please do let me know and thank you very much for all of your advice thus far.

I will also mention when I discussed the situation with the private GP, she concurred with everything you have said re: very low risk for hand genital contact as well as 90 days being very conservative for syphilis testing, and that the IGG/IGM test is almost always positive by 6 weeks.

Almost all labs use the same test technologies, most of which are highly automated and pretty much foolproof. You can rely on the results regardless of which lab does them.

Enjoy your weekend!