Talking about home testing for HIV

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Gorry

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3

27

Sep 18

Anxiety after 2 negative tests

Hello!

6 years ago I had protected (Condom) sex with an HIV+ guy both as top and bottom. He didn’t even ejaculate in the condom but in my belly. I’m afraid that I mistakenly cleaned my anus with the same tissue as my belly (I’m not sure of this but I can’t stop thinking about this). Few weeks later I had pain in my chest after swallowing and a little bit of fever for a few days.

Because I thought I had safe sex I didn’t take any test until now. I realized a week ago that I have 2-3 new moles and then I started to panic.

I bought 2 days ago a rapid test (BioSure) which came back negative with a control line. A day after I was still panicking and thinking it could have been wrong and bought another one which also came back negative with just the control line.

I went to the doctor and he told me that my new moles are completely normal and nothing to worry about. Anyway I also asked him to take a blood test for STIs (It will be my third test).

Am I crazy? Can I be the 0.01-0.02% of false negative guys after so many years? May both of the tests that I bought be faulty and show a control line without checking properly that there are no anti-hiv?

Sorry for the long explanation 🙁

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3 Responses

Francesca Bard, BioSure (UK) Ltd
 Work on 03rd January 2019

Hi GaryB. The accuracy of the BioSure HIV self test never changes. Our test looks for the antibodies to HIV rather than the virus itself. . If a person has produced antibodies then the test will detect them, but because of how immune systems work, people produce these at different times and rates after contracting the virus. Most people have made these antibodies by 4 weeks but some people can produce them as late as 12 weeks later. This is why we say a negative result cannot be relied upon within this period and it is recommended to test again at 3 months after exposure. A positive test result can always be relied upon as it means antibodies to HIV have been detected. At 6 weeks 95% of people have produced the antibodies to the virus and at 12 weeks 99.9% of people have, this is why a negative result can only be conclusive after 12 weeks. I hope this answers your question but please don't hesitate to contact me further. Kindest regards Francesca Bard, BioSure (UK) Ltd

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gary b
 Used on 03rd January 2019

How accurate is a Biosure test at 11 weeks after ? Is there a need to do another?

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Francesca Bard, BioSure (UK) Ltd
 Work on 28th September 2018

Hi Gorry. Thank you for getting in contact with us and I hope I am able to put your mind at rest, that's what I'm here for. The symptoms you have described are much more likely to be lots of other things other than HIV. With both tests that you have undertaken I can guarantee you that both of the results could not be false. The BioSURE HIV test picks up the types of antibodies that would hang around in your blood practically forever. I am aware that for some people accepting a negative result is just as difficult as a positive result. But my advice is to accept that your HIV status is negative. Unless you have another potential exposure, I would strongly recommend against testing again. That will only prolong your acceptance process. I hope that this helps and have a lovely day. Kindest regards Francesca Bard, BioSure (UK) Ltd

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