11
Aug 21
Wrong result anxiety
I took an HIV self test with Preventx/test.me in early 2020, which showed reactive but was subsequently tested clinically as negative in both a rapid and confirmatory test (done using proper syringe and needle, 4th gen chemiluminescence). I took over an hour to get my finger prick in the self-test that I suspect some of the blood might have dried up and increased the concentration of whatever mimicked HIV antibodies, or I might have simply won the 0.1% lottery for specificity. I think the device they used was Roche Elecsys HIV Duo and gave a COI of around 11 for Ab. This has now made me vary of any kind of self-test. I am still a virgin male, but still have an anxiety on taking another test now to confirm. I like the anonymity of the BioSure test, but what worries me is that if by chance I test positive again, I doubt I survive the panic until I make past the long NHS waiting list for a clinical test (as far as I am aware NHS test is not anonymous either).