antiboty and antigen test
Hello,
I had a HIV test, which looks for antiboty and antigen of HIV, after 92 days.The result was negative (0.37).However the people in the test center just told me that this test was perfomed by enzyme immunoassay method and definetely not ELISA.They also did not know the generation of the test.
1)since the test looked for both antiboty and antigen of HIV was it certainly a 4th generation test?
2)92 days are sufficient for an HIV test whatever the method perfomed was?
thanks in advance
Hello there and thank you for using to AIDS Vancouver as your source of HIV/AIDS information.
It is great to hear that you are taking care of yourself by getting tested as it is the only way to know your status.
The 3rd generation EIA or "ELISA" test looks for antibodies while 4th generation EIA test looks for both antibodies and P24 antigens.
1) Yes, given the description of the test you received (since it tested for both antibody and antigens), it seems very certain that yours was a 4th generation test.
2) The World Health Organization and international guidelines for HIV testing suggest 3 months (12 weeks/84 days) as conclusive with antibody testing.
So yes, testing at or beyond 84 days is considered conclusive and definite: your result at 92 days is conclusive.
No further test is necessary as long as you have not engaged in any high risk activity (unprotected anal/vaginal intercourse or sharing needles) since your last exposure.
Hopefully you find the information helpful.
If you have further questions and/or concerns, please feel free to call/email us.
Stay healthy and keep smiling
Yoshiko,
AIDS Vancouver Helpline Volunteer
E-mail: helpline@aidsvancouver.org
Phone (Mon-Fri 9-4pm): (604) 696-4666
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