[Question #6822] Testing Questions
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65 months ago
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Hi Doctors,
I (a male, age 41) have been in the dating scene for about 10 years, but have recently decided to settle down a bit and try for a longer term relationship, so want a clean bill or health to proceed. My sexual lifestyle over this time has been all "conventional" type vaginal/oral sex with women, and I've been good about protection, but not PERFECT on a few occasions.
Anyway I went online with STDCheck.com at about 16 of NO sexual contact at all and ordered a 10-test panel. All tests came back "normal" or "non-reactive" including the 4th Gen HIV Test.
Then about 3 weeks ago I met someone I may consider a longer term relationship with and decided I should have another final stand-alone HIV test to be sure of my status. I read up on HIV tests and decided to have an RNA test at 26 Weeks since it looks for the virus directly and I had already had an antibody test, so I thought I was covering my bases better.
Got the RNA test results back as "not detected". I then read that this test could "become less accurate at 6 months due to body's immune response lowering the viral load under detectable levels". So I again ordered another 4th Gen at 27 Weeks which was negative as well.
I asked a friend of mine who is an ENT doctor (he fully admits not his area of expertise though, but pretty much blew me off with "Your fine") about these tests and his responses were:
1. You didn't need any more testing after 16 Weeks
2. You DEFINITELY didn't need RNA testing.
3. The combination of the two tests together at 26 and 27 Weeks is fool-proof evidence you aren't infected. Either the RNA test would pick up the virus directly, or if the virus was really suppressed by immune system, your 4th Gen test would be "very positive".
Can you please comment on the accuracty of his comments and whether more testing is needed to be sure?
Thanks,
T
I (a male, age 41) have been in the dating scene for about 10 years, but have recently decided to settle down a bit and try for a longer term relationship, so want a clean bill or health to proceed. My sexual lifestyle over this time has been all "conventional" type vaginal/oral sex with women, and I've been good about protection, but not PERFECT on a few occasions.
Anyway I went online with STDCheck.com at about 16 of NO sexual contact at all and ordered a 10-test panel. All tests came back "normal" or "non-reactive" including the 4th Gen HIV Test.
Then about 3 weeks ago I met someone I may consider a longer term relationship with and decided I should have another final stand-alone HIV test to be sure of my status. I read up on HIV tests and decided to have an RNA test at 26 Weeks since it looks for the virus directly and I had already had an antibody test, so I thought I was covering my bases better.
Got the RNA test results back as "not detected". I then read that this test could "become less accurate at 6 months due to body's immune response lowering the viral load under detectable levels". So I again ordered another 4th Gen at 27 Weeks which was negative as well.
I asked a friend of mine who is an ENT doctor (he fully admits not his area of expertise though, but pretty much blew me off with "Your fine") about these tests and his responses were:
1. You didn't need any more testing after 16 Weeks
2. You DEFINITELY didn't need RNA testing.
3. The combination of the two tests together at 26 and 27 Weeks is fool-proof evidence you aren't infected. Either the RNA test would pick up the virus directly, or if the virus was really suppressed by immune system, your 4th Gen test would be "very positive".
Can you please comment on the accuracty of his comments and whether more testing is needed to be sure?
Thanks,
T
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65 months ago
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On the 10-Test panel, I meant "16 WEEKS" to be clear.
Thanks,
T
Thanks,
T
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
65 months ago
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Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your confidence in our services.
Congratulations on a rational and responsible approach to your past and anticipated future plans. This is the best use of the commonly promoted STD test panels, i.e. before entering a committed relationship and one's dating days wind down. However, the additional HIV RNA test 3 weeks ago was superfluous. I agree exactly with your ENT friend -- perhaps not in his possible "blow off" attitude, but I agree exactly with the numbered statements. There has never been a proved case of HIV in someone whose antigen-antibody (AgAb, 4th generation) HIV test was negative more than 6 weeks after the last possible exposure. (The only exception is when someone has taken prophylactic anti-HIV drugs and they don't work -- but even that is rare, and even then the AgAb tests are conclusive after 3 months instead of 6 weeks, way beyond the 26-27 week testing you did.)
So for sure you're home free on HIV, as well as all gthe other infections represented in your 10 test panel. You're good to go. Best wishes in your future romantic endeavors -- I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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