[Question #9950] Follow up Question 9862

27 months ago

I’ve tested using HIV RNA PCR 24 days after exposure. It was genexpert by cepheid,

It was negative,

Would you consider this to be 99 percent accurate or I need to be tested at 6 weeks,

Sorry for testing early,

I am unsure I will have access to the pcr next week onwards

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

27 months ago

Welcome back, but I'm sorry you found it necessary -- since the answers to this question are pretty clear from our previous discussion. As I said there, you were at no risk of HIV and didn't need testing at all. Any and all testing was and remains strictly for reassurance, not because of medical need or risk assessment.

PCR was not the right test for this purpose, however. If you were going to be tested at all, my recommendation would be an antigen-antibody (AbAb, 4th generation) blood test. However, you can consider the negative PCR result 100% conclusive and you need no more testing. If you choose to have the kind of test all experts recommend as the gold standard, have an AgAb test at 6 weeks. No need to spend extra money on a PCR test.

HHH, MD

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27 months ago

Dear Doctor,

I will test myself at 6 weeks purely for reassurance however I’ve just got my results back from a hiv 5th gen and are negative conducted on day 28 as part of a hospital visit for what turned out to be Folliculitis and Sebhoric dermatitis . I am vaccinated for hep b, would you Recommend testing for hep a and c

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

27 months ago

"Fifth generation" is a marketing term by the test manufacturer; it's just the same as all 4th generation HIV tests (AgAb). It is not conclusive until 45 days after exposure. However, since you don't need testing anyway, it is up to you whether to have another test at that time. See my comment above about reassurance being the only reason, not because you actually were at risk.

The exposure you are concerned about was zero risk for hepatitis A and C; do not waste money on testing for them.

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27 months ago

Thank you doctor,

Assuming it was a 1 in a 10000 risk or whatever would the pcr and now 4th gen test picked it up most times?

27 months ago

I meant ,

Sorry for my weird phrasing,

Would the combination of pcr at 23 days and duo at 28 days be conclusive. I am sorry for my phrasing I am using translate for bits

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

27 months ago

My fault for not addressing the combination of tests. I would consider those result conclusive. You don't need any more tests.

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. As I think you know, we discourage repeated questions on the same topic. This being your second about this exposure and its HIV risks and testing, it will have to be your last. Thanks for your understanding. I hope the discussions have been useful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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