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Are Dry Mouth, Sore Throat And Diarrhea Symptomatic Of HIV?
Question: Hi. I was tested for HIV on 3/2/2017and again on 6/29/2017, both test were negative; they used the 4th Gen test. My last possible exposure was in February of this year. I recently been experiencing constant dry mouth, sore throat and occasional diarrhea. My questions are: how accurate are 4th Gen test, did I wait long enough and should i get tested again. I read on some sites to wait 6 months.
Brief Answer:
would be accurate
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The second test would have been done approximately 4 months after exposure
The window period of a test is the time from first infection or exposure to when that test can accurately and confidently determine if an infection is present
The window period is different for different tests, it would depend on what the test is looking for.
If a test is looking for a chemical that can be found within 2 to 4 weeks after a person has been exposed then that test is accurate by 2 to 4 weeks.
If a test is looking for a chemical that can potentially take up to 6 months to appear, then that test is only truly accurate after 6 months.
There are different types of HIV tests, the older tests have a longer window period because they look for chemicals/ substances that can sometimes take up to 6 months to appear
The newer tests such as the 4th generation or new generation of tests look for two chemicals. One that appears earlier than the other.
The first chemical appears within days ,usually 14 days but for accuracy the test can be repeated at 3 months.
At the 3 month time, the second chemical, which is an antibody, would have been present if a person is HIV positive for sure though in most it would be present before that time.
Since you had a test done at 4 months, this would be past the 3 month mark and it would be completely accurate
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
would be accurate
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The second test would have been done approximately 4 months after exposure
The window period of a test is the time from first infection or exposure to when that test can accurately and confidently determine if an infection is present
The window period is different for different tests, it would depend on what the test is looking for.
If a test is looking for a chemical that can be found within 2 to 4 weeks after a person has been exposed then that test is accurate by 2 to 4 weeks.
If a test is looking for a chemical that can potentially take up to 6 months to appear, then that test is only truly accurate after 6 months.
There are different types of HIV tests, the older tests have a longer window period because they look for chemicals/ substances that can sometimes take up to 6 months to appear
The newer tests such as the 4th generation or new generation of tests look for two chemicals. One that appears earlier than the other.
The first chemical appears within days ,usually 14 days but for accuracy the test can be repeated at 3 months.
At the 3 month time, the second chemical, which is an antibody, would have been present if a person is HIV positive for sure though in most it would be present before that time.
Since you had a test done at 4 months, this would be past the 3 month mark and it would be completely accurate
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What about the symptoms? Should I be worried?
Brief Answer:
symptoms not related to HIV
Detailed Answer:
HI
Any symptoms that you are experiencing are NOT related to HIV since the tests were conclusively and definitively negative.
symptoms not related to HIV
Detailed Answer:
HI
Any symptoms that you are experiencing are NOT related to HIV since the tests were conclusively and definitively negative.
Note: Get personalized answers to your HIV related queries You can choose to talk face to face with your doctor. Book a Video Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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