Hi Dr, I wish you a merry Christmas. I have asked a question before here about my potential exposure in Asia. Even though in the previous question, I said it was protected. However i was not sure if it was protected or not.I took an oraquick in home hiv test at 8 weeks after the exposure. After 20 minutes, the test showed only one line at the C section and clearly no line in the T section.However the background was a little bit pink but it was very clear that there was a line in C section and no line in the T section. Would this test be a valid negative result? After the oraquick test, I have had multiple rapid tests in a local clinic and they were negative. My latest test was HIV Stat Pak test 4 months after an exposure (negative too).  Can I say that I am negative now? Thank you

thanks for your question.  I hope that this reply will brighten up your holidays.  I tried to look for your earlier question and was unable to find one under this user name so I can't comment on your earlier interaction.  What I can say is that you can be confident that you did not get HIV from the encounter you describe, now over 4 months ago.  The home tests are great screening tests and at 8 weeks somewhere in the neighborhood of 95% of recently acquired HIV test will be negative and what you describe is a negative test.  the pink color you noted reflects the chemical reaction that takes place in the test and is not abnormal.  Further, you have now confirmed that you were not infected through your repeated testing.  It is now time to stop worrying about the exposure you describe, to stop testing, and to move forward without concern.  I hope that my comments will help you to do this.  Take care.  EWH
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Hi, Thanks for your response. When you said "at 8 weeks somewhere in the neighborhood of 95% of recently acquired HIV test will be negative" did you mean "95% of recently acquired HIV test will be positive" ? And just to make sure, if after 20 minutes there still be a little bit pink in the background that will still be normal. Do i understand it correctly? Thank you

Correct. At 8 weeks with the Orasure test, over 95% of or recent infections would be detected.  Further, the pink color you noticed, as I said earlier, would be entirely normal and should not worry you.  EWH
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Hi Dr. Hook, im really appreciated your answer. I just got another hiv stat pak test yesterday and it was negative too. I understand that i have 2 follow ups question, therefore this will be the last question from me. Does Fda- approved rapid test detect all major subtype of hiv 1, particularly those subtypes in Asia? Thanks very much and happy new year.

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