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Is 4th Gen HIV Test Done 53 Days After Exposure Conclusive?
Posted on
Sun, 12 Mar 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 12 Mar 2017
Answered on
Tue, 4 Apr 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : Respected Sir.
Good Morning
I had a protected Sex - 8 weeks back with a sex worker and i dont know her HIV status but she was healthy and I only had 2 Insertion done first wearing one condom and again one more wearing two condoms as she provided the condoms and the sex was for 10 to 15 Seconds as i was very scared i ejaculated out side and no other type of sexually contact.
Next day after my exposure i had Heavy head ( pain all over my head and mucous filled i think ) and lots of cold ( i had little cold and congestion before ) two days heavy head went off and 1 week later exposure i had fever , mild sore throat dry cough, green phlegm when i cough some times and body pains with lot of fatigue and doc had give Taxim of and okacet for 3 day course of Antibiotic's and it went away but i still feel like i have cold and sore throat (dryness and nose block in mornings till today comes and goes till today also i am prone to cold and allergies from past many days and today also i feel like mucus dripping in side throat when i sallow saliva and also pains in neck and throat coming an goin with head aches - please advice Sir
Also i have got red spots kind of pimples and raised papulus on my hands coming and going with itching also when i press them their is a water kind off coming out and it will become big pimple and reduced in size and go off ( i have never had these this in my life)
From that night after exposure i was sleepless and very tensed and feared by HIV and other STD, i have been referring them on Google reading all the question and answers and i am closing watching any symptoms of mine as per internet extensively and i have totally lost my social life completely and i am scared and read all the information on HIV form internet and filled with fear and guilt and most pain full days of my life from exposure date. - I request you help and support
Please do not think I am asking lots of questions, I am so badly disturbed sir I needed a Doc to understand me and advise. I have become a dead person with all these in my head and emotional on my parents and sister
I have taken 2 HIV test
1 - HIV - Enchanced Chemilumesence (Antibody) - 6th week mark - Non reactive.
2 - HIV - ELFA - i have requested the lab to run 4th Gen - antigen and antibody test - Non reactive 53 days mark (8th week) - Non reactive.
Please advice if i am safe and risk free and need any repeat test i am so worried and depressed with all my sad emotions please need you advice as you most experienced Sir.
Good Morning
I had a protected Sex - 8 weeks back with a sex worker and i dont know her HIV status but she was healthy and I only had 2 Insertion done first wearing one condom and again one more wearing two condoms as she provided the condoms and the sex was for 10 to 15 Seconds as i was very scared i ejaculated out side and no other type of sexually contact.
Next day after my exposure i had Heavy head ( pain all over my head and mucous filled i think ) and lots of cold ( i had little cold and congestion before ) two days heavy head went off and 1 week later exposure i had fever , mild sore throat dry cough, green phlegm when i cough some times and body pains with lot of fatigue and doc had give Taxim of and okacet for 3 day course of Antibiotic's and it went away but i still feel like i have cold and sore throat (dryness and nose block in mornings till today comes and goes till today also i am prone to cold and allergies from past many days and today also i feel like mucus dripping in side throat when i sallow saliva and also pains in neck and throat coming an goin with head aches - please advice Sir
Also i have got red spots kind of pimples and raised papulus on my hands coming and going with itching also when i press them their is a water kind off coming out and it will become big pimple and reduced in size and go off ( i have never had these this in my life)
From that night after exposure i was sleepless and very tensed and feared by HIV and other STD, i have been referring them on Google reading all the question and answers and i am closing watching any symptoms of mine as per internet extensively and i have totally lost my social life completely and i am scared and read all the information on HIV form internet and filled with fear and guilt and most pain full days of my life from exposure date. - I request you help and support
Please do not think I am asking lots of questions, I am so badly disturbed sir I needed a Doc to understand me and advise. I have become a dead person with all these in my head and emotional on my parents and sister
I have taken 2 HIV test
1 - HIV - Enchanced Chemilumesence (Antibody) - 6th week mark - Non reactive.
2 - HIV - ELFA - i have requested the lab to run 4th Gen - antigen and antibody test - Non reactive 53 days mark (8th week) - Non reactive.
Please advice if i am safe and risk free and need any repeat test i am so worried and depressed with all my sad emotions please need you advice as you most experienced Sir.
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are not related to HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
Earliest manifestations of HIV infection can occur only 3-4 weeks after the risk activity, in the presence of an infection. So,, the sore throat, cold and headache occurred on the very next day could not be due to HIV infection. Moreover you had protected intercourse. Spouses of HIV positive individuals remain HIV negative for years of protected intercourse. Your negative HIV antibody tests 8 weeks after the intercourse is also confirming that you are free from HIV infection. Anyhow another negative HIV test 12 weeks after the exposure will be of more conclusive.
Dr S Murugan
Your symptoms are not related to HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
Earliest manifestations of HIV infection can occur only 3-4 weeks after the risk activity, in the presence of an infection. So,, the sore throat, cold and headache occurred on the very next day could not be due to HIV infection. Moreover you had protected intercourse. Spouses of HIV positive individuals remain HIV negative for years of protected intercourse. Your negative HIV antibody tests 8 weeks after the intercourse is also confirming that you are free from HIV infection. Anyhow another negative HIV test 12 weeks after the exposure will be of more conclusive.
Dr S Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Hi sir
thanks for your time and thought
I have some questions and confusions which you can clear as I feel you the best experienced doc for HIV
1. I have still dry cough,sore throat, headache which comes and goes is it some thing to worry now.
2. is ELFA a 4th generation test and how accurate is it in detection? as per the micro biologist she told it's advanced 4th generation kit used which detecta both antigen and antibody. or should I go for another Higher test
3. as I have read lots on internet and on HIV fourms people always tell ARS will show up within 1 month time and it's mostly with all the people and the window period is 3 to 4 weeks and XXXXXXX 6weeks and antibody should be detected or atleast antigens please share your thoughts in practical.
4.how safe and risk free I am as per you experience sir
thanks for your time and thought
I have some questions and confusions which you can clear as I feel you the best experienced doc for HIV
1. I have still dry cough,sore throat, headache which comes and goes is it some thing to worry now.
2. is ELFA a 4th generation test and how accurate is it in detection? as per the micro biologist she told it's advanced 4th generation kit used which detecta both antigen and antibody. or should I go for another Higher test
3. as I have read lots on internet and on HIV fourms people always tell ARS will show up within 1 month time and it's mostly with all the people and the window period is 3 to 4 weeks and XXXXXXX 6weeks and antibody should be detected or atleast antigens please share your thoughts in practical.
4.how safe and risk free I am as per you experience sir
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are not related to HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Both the tests for HIV, you had undergone including the ELFA, are antibody detection tests, not 4th generation HIV test. Chemilumesence and ELFA HIV test are highly reliable test upto 97% or more.
But the window period for HIV is around 6-8 weeks, sometimes up to 12 weeks. So these tests became more conclusive after 12 weeks of risk activity. But protected exposure is not considered as a risk activity.
Your symptoms are common to be experienced by anybody without HIV infection.
Nothing to worry.
Dr S Murugan
Your symptoms are not related to HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Both the tests for HIV, you had undergone including the ELFA, are antibody detection tests, not 4th generation HIV test. Chemilumesence and ELFA HIV test are highly reliable test upto 97% or more.
But the window period for HIV is around 6-8 weeks, sometimes up to 12 weeks. So these tests became more conclusive after 12 weeks of risk activity. But protected exposure is not considered as a risk activity.
Your symptoms are common to be experienced by anybody without HIV infection.
Nothing to worry.
Dr S Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Hi Sir,
thank you
as per the lab I had already told them to run 4th generation and informed them to run both antigen and antibody so they confirmed to me they had run 4th generation ELFA sir and told it's qualitative test and no readings are given.
thank you
as per the lab I had already told them to run 4th generation and informed them to run both antigen and antibody so they confirmed to me they had run 4th generation ELFA sir and told it's qualitative test and no readings are given.
Brief Answer:
Negative 4th generation test by 53 days ruled out HIV 1 infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
In 4th generation HIV test reports, it would be mentioned as either COMBO or DUO test HIV Ag/ Ab (1&2). In your reports there is no such mention about the P24 Antigen test. In ELFA both 4th and 3rd generation tests are there.
But with 4th generation test it would be mentioned as DUO test and about antigen detection. In this Combo Antigen part will detect only HIV 1. The antibody can detect both HIV 1 and 2.
If it is really 4th generation test then as per the result you are free from HIV 1 infection beyond any doubt.But still with antibody part of the test in 4th generation test it will become conclusive only 12 weeks after the exposure. So to rule out HIV 2 beyond any doubt you have to wait for another 3-4 weeks.
HIV 1 infection is common up to 99.5% throughout the world except certain pockets of XXXXXXX Prevalence of HIV 2 infection is less than 0.5%.
With protected contact you need not worry about all these things.
Dr S.Murugan
Negative 4th generation test by 53 days ruled out HIV 1 infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
In 4th generation HIV test reports, it would be mentioned as either COMBO or DUO test HIV Ag/ Ab (1&2). In your reports there is no such mention about the P24 Antigen test. In ELFA both 4th and 3rd generation tests are there.
But with 4th generation test it would be mentioned as DUO test and about antigen detection. In this Combo Antigen part will detect only HIV 1. The antibody can detect both HIV 1 and 2.
If it is really 4th generation test then as per the result you are free from HIV 1 infection beyond any doubt.But still with antibody part of the test in 4th generation test it will become conclusive only 12 weeks after the exposure. So to rule out HIV 2 beyond any doubt you have to wait for another 3-4 weeks.
HIV 1 infection is common up to 99.5% throughout the world except certain pockets of XXXXXXX Prevalence of HIV 2 infection is less than 0.5%.
With protected contact you need not worry about all these things.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Sir,
Thank you for you time and thoughts.
I had a talk with the Lab Microbiologist now and asked the details of the exact test report. i have attached for your review.
The doctor informed me as it was done with 4th gen Kit using VIDAS machine.
Please provide me your thoughts and should be relived and forget about the HIV
Thank you for you time and thoughts.
I had a talk with the Lab Microbiologist now and asked the details of the exact test report. i have attached for your review.
The doctor informed me as it was done with 4th gen Kit using VIDAS machine.
Please provide me your thoughts and should be relived and forget about the HIV
Brief Answer:
Negative 4th generation test by 53 days ruled out HIV 1 infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Yes, you had been checked with 4th generation HIV test only as it has been mentioned as DUO at the bottom of the result.
Negative 4th generation HIV test on 53rd day after the exposure ruled out the possibility of HIV 1 infection which is common up to 99.5%. Antibody detection in some individuals would likely to be delayed up to 12 weeks. So ruling out HIV 2 infection will be conclusive after 12 weeks.
Dr S.Murugan
Negative 4th generation test by 53 days ruled out HIV 1 infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Yes, you had been checked with 4th generation HIV test only as it has been mentioned as DUO at the bottom of the result.
Negative 4th generation HIV test on 53rd day after the exposure ruled out the possibility of HIV 1 infection which is common up to 99.5%. Antibody detection in some individuals would likely to be delayed up to 12 weeks. So ruling out HIV 2 infection will be conclusive after 12 weeks.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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