[Question #1711] Anxiety and Testing Conclusiveness - 4th Gen Duo Tests
91 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
91 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum, sort of. The chance of getting HIV or any other STI from the exposure you describe is infinitesimal- most CSWs do not have HIV or other STIs, most exposures to infected persons do not lead to infection, particularly when they are as brief as yours was, and your tests have proven that you were not infected. Currently available tests for HIV are among the ost reliable tests in all of medicine. As I read your post and reviewed your results, it became apparent that you were asking me to confirm what you have already asked your own doctor, an HIV hotline counselor and Dr. Cummings. In each case, they, like me have assured you that your tests clearly and without a doubt prove that you were not infected with HIV or any other STI that you were tested for from the brief encounter that you describe. From what you have said there is absolutely no reason for further testing and no medically sound reason for you to be continuing to worry. Paraphrasing Albert Einstein, one definition of insanity is to be doing the same thing again and again and to expect a different result.
The is NO NEED for additional testing and to continue to test is a waste of your time and money. My sincere advice is that you should instead seek the help of a trained, confidential counselor to help you work through whatever (guilt, shame?) that is interfering with your ability to believe your test results. EWH
91 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
91 months ago
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These follow-up questions were answered in my original post. Therefore my response to your repetitive, anxiety-driven questions will be very brief:
1. You should have complete confidence in these tests/lab results
2. See no. 1 above. Your results are reliable
3. There is no possibility that your test results will change related to the exposure you report
4. There is no need for further testing.
EWH
91 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
91 months ago
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This is the 3rd time you have asked this question and the answer has not changed. The results you mention are conclusive for the exposure you have described.
As you know this is my 3rd reply to your questions. Therefore as per Forum policy, this thread will be closed later today . EWH
91 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
91 months ago
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Test results at 66 days are reliable with virtually all approved tests. The CDC' recommendations are overly conservative. As Dr. Handsfield wrote just a few days ago, listing several reason why governmental agencies such as the CDC tend to be so conservative. Here is what he said:
" CDC developed its advice before 4th generation tests became available. The first reason is that many government agencies generally take conservative positions on prevention advice, and 3 months does that. Second and perhaps most important: As a government agency, CDC's advice usually must be consistent with the official information provided by the test manufacturers in the tests' package inserts. That information is based on original research, before the tests were marketed, and much of that research is conducted in a way that probably underestimates the tests' true performance. In any case, that information cannot legally be changed unless and until the test manufacturer conducts and new research to justify the change, and that research is vetted and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. That's a very expensive process and therefore is rarely done. Other research, or the clinical experience of experts using the tests in the real world, and theoretical considerations about how the tests work may not be used to justify a revised package insert or any other information provided to the public. However, independent experts do not have those restrictions and can give advice based entirely on their clinical experience and their interpretation of the science of the tests and published science. That's what we do on this forum."
These comments will end this thread. EWH