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How Reliable Is A Rapid HIV Test After Three Months Of Exposure?

Posted on Fri, 3 Jul 2015

Question: Dear Doctor.
First of all i want to thank you for the amazing site you have here to assist people and help.
My STORY is i Had one unprotected sex with a woman unknown HIV status in 15 March 2015 and since that time i have not any sex with any woman its 91 days now, as am so so worry since and i really tired from thinking too much in this even not sleeping well, i got many HIV FINGER PRICK RAPID TEST from many manufacturers and i use to make tests almost weekly with 3 or 4 different rapid tests and it was all negative, one friend told me i should wait 3 months which i did and yesterday was 90 days and i did 4 rapid finger prick tests and all was negative only one of them have a very very white faint line i think no one can notice it or maybe i have eagles eyes to see it , then i repeated it with the same manufacture came out with no white line, my question is am i ok now? i should not worry again , is the finger prick rapid test good or reliable enough to give you good results after 3 months ?
Thank you very much and i appreciate your fast answer
Sorry for my bad English I wish u will get my point
Best Regards
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
99.9% chances that you are negative for HIV.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query at HCM.
Thanks you so much for your appreciation. As doctors we all are there to assist you.

I understand your concern and situation.
I realize that12 weeks have already passed since your last exposure. The finger prick test is a screening test and reliable. But the confirmatory test is PCR or 4 th generation ELISA Test after 12 weeks. In your case it is 99% chances that you are negative for HIV. But as per international norms I suggest you can take a confirmatory test also to be absolutely sure. I advise that you can take the test anytime after 12 weeks and get a repeat test at 6 months. There is no need to worry as this is just a routine to be followed. I suggest post counseling from HIV center you can take a test.

Take care.
Hope I answered your query.
You can take a follow-up query.
If no clarifications then you can close the discussion and rate the answer. A review will be appreciated.
Dr. Sheetal Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (24 minutes later)

Thanks for the quick response so i should not worry too much and am i consider myself as am negative for hiv? hiv finger prick test is not antibody test as i heard in many websites , doctor i have very strong immnune system and healthy is that delay the results to come positive ,

Thanks very much

Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Dont worry 99.99% you are negative.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Well come back.

Yes you don't need to worry so much. Just take a confirmatory test and be relaxed and live healthy life. If your immune system is good in that case test will be positive earlier not later. In person with low immunity sometime very rarely it takes up to 6 months for test to be positive. So a test can be repeated at 6 months. In healthy people as you tests are positive by 12 weeks. So don't worry. Follow safe sexual practices in future.

Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (24 minutes later)

Thank you very much Doctor

I will do so as u said and with confident now because i was afraid before

With my best regards

Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (0 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Welcome....

Detailed Answer:
You are welcome... Please close this discussion if you have any more questions.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad