[Question #759] PCR/DUO at 28 days
107 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
107 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. Congratulations for your commitment for testing to assure that you are maintaining your sexual health. the answers to your questions vary a little by infection. For ruling out HIV, a PCR would add nothing and might even be falsely positive at this junction. A 28 day HIV Duo AG/AB test result at 28 days is definitive.
For HBV and HCV, the need for testing at all is questionable. Unless you have anticipated in receptive rectal intercourse there is virtually no risk for sexual acquisition of hepatitis C and therefore no need for testing. If you did receive rectal sex, then a PCR would likely become positive before the three month period at which HCV IgG tests results would be definitive. As for hepatitis B, if you are vaccinated, you are not at risk and there was no need for testing to start with. On the other hand, if you have not received the hepatitis B vaccine, then testing is reasonable. Again, PCR might become positive before hepatitis B antigen is detectable but how much earlier has not been well studied.
Personally and depending on the nature of your exposure, my advice at this time and assuming that your exposure was truly low risk would be to not test further, to accept the assurance that your tests so far provide and to move forward without concern. All tests have occasional false positives which can cause their own harm and anxiety.
I hope this response is helpful. EWH
107 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
107 months ago
|