Conclusive or missing hiv
Hello all. I started really having symptoms in late 2017 after an exposure. Over the last three years I’ve had multiple rna tests(last 4 months ago), Third and fourth generation test(last 4 and 8 months ago respectively). All in all since March of 2018, I’ve had approximately 40 different tests including rapids, rna, 3/4 gen. To this day I still experience bad abdominal pain every day, have become anemic, and get oral
Sores more frequently. Can so many tests miss hiv because of an odd subtype/strain?
, It sounds like you have done many different types of tests already. HIV tests taken 6 months after a potential exposure are 99.9 percent accurate. If your HIV tests were taken 6 months post-exposure, you can trust the results. Typically, people may experience a false positive if an HIV test is taken within the first 2 months of a possible exposure; this period of time is called the "window period". However, outside window period, false-positives are rare with HIV test. For more information, see here: https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/false-negative-results-hiv-tests
I saw that you also asked about subtypes. I have some information on the most recent subtype from 2019, which includes that it is detectable by diagnostic testing. HIV tests are rigorous and there are surveillance systems to track old and new strains of the virus, as the article states.
Do you have a doctor you trust to speak to about other things that might cause your stomach symptoms and oral sores? It's totally normal to be nervous; however, it may be helpful to seek more information from your primary care doctor for more insight.
Please keep us posted on how you are doing, and I hope this information can help you. Best, Liz (Team Member)I’m sure you actually meant false negative and not false positive. Also, with multitudes of tests of various types, would I be an extra ordinary case if turned out to be positive after 3 1/2 years of testing? I’ve done the last rna test in March along with antibody test because I gave blood. My doctor said I could. Other rna tests before that snd last 4th generation test was December of 2020 which was right at three years after exposure.
All docs say subtypes of any such would be picked up but I’m
Just worried
Alafia (Peace) I want to follow up with you to see if your issue has found a conclusion. Please let us know how you are doing? Khafre (H-I-V.net Team Member) nope. Still going through the same stuff. This past week I sent in a dried blood spot test. It’s supposed to look for hiv 1/2 ab as well as hiv-1 antigen. It came back non-reactive. Can ALL tests miss some sort of hiv for over 4 1/2 years now? I’ve done so many tests. I don’t know what to do anymore
, yes I can tell you are worried. We're not medical professionals or able to interpret test results for you, but after 3 1/2 years of testing I wonder if any other doctors have offered insight into your symptoms? I am sorry you are still going through so much after all this time. - Liz (Team Member) Alafia (Peace) We appreciate you reaching out to us with your question. I don't know much about the subtype not showing up in an HIV test but has provided you with some great resources. It seems like you have done your due diligence with getting tested and it may be time relax and know how to reduce your risk of HIV transmission. You got this. Khafre (H-I-V.net Team Member)
