[Question #7906] Drawing a line under all this
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50 months ago
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Dear Doctors,
Sorry I’m back with a few questions, I understand that repeated questions will be deleted without refund, so I hope as I have not asked these before they won’t.
As you know by my previous posts I’m unable to draw a line under all of this due to my symptoms of Oral thrush and Mouth Burning.
I’ve seen you always speak highly of Freedom Health in Harley street, so I went to see them so I could get some Closure.
Unfortunately Dr Cummings has left and sold the company to his Partners, I saw Dr Wright instead.
I explained my issues and he said he see’s hundreds of people each year with the same anxiety’s.
Never the less he did a rapid 3rd Gen Insti and I paid for the Hiv RNA PCR test.
As you have said previously they didn’t think it was necessary but were happy to take my Money.
My question is what is the accuracy of the RNA test at 5 months and why is it not used more regularly as a diagnostic test?
Thank you
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
50 months ago
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I cannot tell you how sad it makes me to see you returning to the forum for the fifth time in a month. It is clear that you are unable to control your unwarranted concerns and anxiety. I cannot help but wonder if this is fueled by searching for answers to your problems on the Internet which is a notorious source of misinformation. Neither Dr. Handsfield nor I are discounting your problems or your symptoms. On the other hand we are 100% sure that they are not due to HIV or any other STI. I seriously considered deleting this question without a response but because you have post a slightly different question which may be of interest to readers I will reply to that before closing the thread.
The fourth generation, combination HIV antigen/antibody test currently in use are amongst the most reliable tests in all of medicine after six weeks following an encounter. PCR and related tests are more expensive, slightly more likely to give erroneous results, and are unnecessary in a situation such as yours. PCR tests are not used for routine diagnosis of HIV because it is not cost effective. Further, there is a slightly higher False positive rate with PCR type test than with the standard fourth generation antigen/antibody test.
This will be my only response to this thread and it will be closed immediately. I urge you to seek counseling for your anxiety and your inability to move forward from your concerns about HIV. It is clearly not healthy for you. I say this out of concern for you and for no other reason. EWH
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