How soon before 90 days for HIV Testing?

[socal21]

Hey guys, so based on my last post regarding my encounter I'm gonna get an HIV test done. I know one should wait 3 months to do so, but how close to the 3 month mark before hitting it can I go? October 4th will be the 12 week mark exactly. Can I go at the end of this month? I'm sorry to sound so impatient, but I've actually been talking to a really nice guy and well, I don't wanna get anymore involved before knowing my status :/

 

[KaraBulut]

I think you mean this thread.

The studies say that at 4 weeks post exposure, in excess of 90% of people will have a positive antibody test. That goes up to >97% at 3 months.

Since your thread is from mid-July and the exposure was so low risk, you can test at any time and still be within the >90% window since you're beyond the 4 week window. If you were already tested at 4-6 weeks, then a retest before 3 months is a waste of time. The second confirmation test should be done between 3-6 months.

 

[jamesblue]

Thanks for the stats. Thankfully for me, I had a low risk exposure a couple of years ago and still negative.

But it makes me wonder, what is the test that the Porn Stars get, because I remember seeing a warning on a movie saying they had been tested and were negative at time of making the bareback movie, how can they be certain????


Thanks

 

[socal21]

I think you mean this thread.

The studies say that at 4 weeks post exposure, in excess of 90% of people will have a positive antibody test. That goes up to >97% at 3 months.

Since your thread is from mid-July and the exposure was so low risk, you can test at any time and still be within the >90% window since you're beyond the 4 week window. If you were already tested at 4-6 weeks, then a retest before 3 months is a waste of time. The second confirmation test should be done between 3-6 months.

Okay, after reading this I went ahead and got the lab request from my Doc and got an HIV test blood done. I'll get results next week, but the lady at the diagnostic center was rude when she read my paperwork and read it was an HIV test...I would have requested someone else do it, but it seemed like she was the only person there, so I ignored her attitude and went about my day...

 

[KaraBulut]

But it makes me wonder, what is the test that the Porn Stars get, because I remember seeing a warning on a movie saying they had been tested and were negative at time of making the bareback movie, how can they be certain????

There's not a consistent standard.

AIM Medical, the industry foundation that sponsored the testing program) used a PCR test which tested for HIV antigen instead of antibody. HIV is present in the bloodstream in detectable levels within 7-10 days of infection. These tests are expensive ($200-400 depending on the lab) and aren't used for routine testing.

Unfortunately, AIM had their database hacked and they were forced into bankruptcy by privacy lawsuits afterward.

Conventional HIV antibody testing is much cheaper but it is limited by the delay between infection and the presence of antibody- generally somewhere between 2 weeks and 6 months (although the large majority of people will test antibody positive within 4-6 weeks of exposure).

 

[jess70301]

My partners showed up at 6 weeks on a swab test. It was a very faint line but it was there. I am still neg and am tested religously.!

 

[jason1977]

Look for places that give free tests. Maybe through your county health clinic or an HIV clinic. They'll use swab or blood tests that take 15 minutes or less for results. They're very accurate, although not full proof. You still need to be aware of the window period. Getting an HIV test through doctors aren't that expensive anymore (for the antibodies). Actually, I got tested for the virus itself for about $100 when a doctor of mine didn't trust the antibody test. That was the discounted price with insurance.