[Question #13427] STI testing food drink, biotin
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1 months ago
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Because of special instruction here https://www.labcorp.com/tests/083935/hiv-p24-antigen-antibody-with-reflex-to-confirmation about biotin, I got really worry test accuracy.
So I want to get STI test in two weeks on 90 days mark for hiv syphills hep etc. Do I need to stop drink alcohol, coffee, stop eating food with biotin like eggs and etc to get an accurate result? Stop smoking, weed etc. Thanks
The exposure is happy ending in massage parlor with hand 90 days ago, but I also have sex with random people before that.
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1 months ago
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So two question:
1. Do I need to avoid any food drink medication mentioned above, especially alcohol, coffee, egg, if yes for how long? (Concern of biotin in them or any other thing may affect result)
2. Is 90 days enough for window period I didn’t take pep etc
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1 months ago
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Besides alcohol, coffee, eggs, also tea etc
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1 months ago
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Test is mostly about hiv 4th ag/ab
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
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Welcome back, but I am sorry you found it necessary.
The foods you mention have no effect at all on the reliability of timing of the blood tests for HIV. The amounts of biotin in any food or in standard vitamins has no effect on HIV testing. There is a possibility of interference when people take biotin in very large amounts, typically in muscle building exercise problems. Even in these doses, it is necessary only to not take biotin for 2 or 3 days before testing. Biotin and HIV testing has been discussed many times on this forum. Use the search function and enter "biotin" to see those discussions.
The window period for almost all kinds of HIV tests is well under 90 days. For example, 11 days for the HIV RNA PCR ("viral load") test and 45 days (a little over 6 weeks) for the antigen-antibody (AgAb, "duo", "combo", or "4th generation") blood tests. There are no exceptions except when people take PEP drugs, which prolong the time to conclusive results. The food you mention or biotin in them make no difference; you do not need to avoid them prior to testing. Your test results are conclusive.
Biotin and HIV testing has been discussed many times on this forum. Use the search function and enter "biotin" to see those discussions.
HHH, MD
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1 months ago
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Thanks again, just final conformation, I will try to move on based on your science knowledge.
1. so basically I can eat or drink anything include alcohol, coffee, tea, soda, coke, sprite, eggs etc without interfere any STI tests, especially 4th generation hiv, and syphills, hep tests. Sometime when I try to built muscle, I did eat 3-5 eggs, but I didn’t take any vitamin supplements due to worry of biotin.
2. even I am super worry, 3 days is long enough for biotin to leave my body before test?
3. Also 90 days is long enough for other STI like syphills hep A, B, C.
4. I guess hand touch actually is not possible to catch any STI?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
1 months ago
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1. Correct. None of these or any other foods interfere with testing for HIV or any STI.
2. 3 days is enough, and is necessary only if you have taken a ery high dose of biotin.
3. Most STI tests are conclusive much earlier than 90 days, and 90 is more than enough for syphilis and viral hepatitis.
4. True: hand touch does not transmit STI.
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1 months ago
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Final question, I eat curry today, still worry about biotin. And I google find this article https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/sites/default/files/inline-files/13959-Article%20Text-49002-1-10-20200219.pdf claim curry leaf has 154mg/100g > 5~10mg biotin which can influence 4th gestation hiv test. But it seems to me the author confuse b6 with biotin for 154mg
I just want to know 154mg/100g is a totally wrong data, curry leaf shouldn’t have this high biotin to influence hiv test, thanks
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26 days ago
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Wonder if you could give third reply here, their website is down right now. I don’t know, even if it’s true for that 154mg/100g amount, I eat then wait 73 hours to do 4th generation hiv ag/ab test.
Still can food have that amount of biotin, other resource say curry leaf only 13mcg
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
25 days ago
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My browser has trouble in pulling up that link, probably the same problem you have had.
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No matter how much biotin someone might take, testing for HIV more than 3 days later undoubtedly remains accurate.
That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.
