I can't take it anymore, I'm getting tested on Monday. Monday will be 10 weeks 2 days. I know I'm supposed to wait until 12 weeks. Does anybody know what percentage of people will test positive after 10 weeks if they truly have the virus.

Regards

Most people will test positive and seroconvert after about 6 weeks...the remainder of those people will test positive after 3 months...I think a 10 week negative will be very enocouraging, but it's always a good idea to go abck for a three month. Unless your immune system is weak and or compromised from drug use or illness, the ten week will pretty much be conclusive. Like I said before though, I would schedule a 3 month, just to be POSITIVLEY sure...
-S-

Most people will test positive and seroconvert after about 6 weeks...the remainder of those people will test positive after 3 months...I think a 10 week negative will be very enocouraging, but it's always a good idea to go abck for a three month. Unless your immune system is weak and or compromised from drug use or illness, the ten week will pretty much be conclusive. Like I said before though, I would schedule a 3 month, just to be POSITIVLEY sure...
-S-
I disagree...(the 3mos part is correct)varying from person to person,incubation can be as little as 3 months and as long as 1 year....TRUTH.

I can't take it anymore, I'm getting tested on Monday. Monday will be 10 weeks 2 days. I know I'm supposed to wait until 12 weeks. Does anybody know what percentage of people will test positive after 10 weeks if they truly have the virus.

Regards



THE PERCENTAGE TO TEST POS AFTER SUCH A SHORT TIME WOULD BE SMALL...Youll JUST HAVE TO TEST AGAIN>Dont trust a 10 week test (or12)
wait'll 6mos.

Dear Kell11: I certainly don't mean to be argumentative and certainly, it is, by the very nature of statistics that there will be those people who fall outside the parameters. However, the CDC ( pretty conservative suggest that a test at 13 wks will be conclusive (yes, someone may fall out of that norm). In the United Kingdom there is a rate of 95% - 97% accuracy at three months. ANd the Terrance Higgins Society suggest that a 6 wks negative test will stay that way. SO, as you can see there are areas of dispute internationally. However, it does seem consistent that the three month test (without additional risky behaviors) would be somewhat conclusive.

For me, the bottom line would be that the poster needs to check with their physician and research (not on the internet) their predicament.

And, as usual, thanks to Mr. Jon for allowing me to steal your thunder. chris

Dear Kell11: I certainly don't mean to be argumentative and certainly, it is, by the very nature of statistics that there will be those people who fall outside the parameters. However, the CDC ( pretty conservative suggest that a test at 13 wks will be conclusive (yes, someone may fall out of that norm). In the United Kingdom there is a rate of 95% - 97% accuracy at three months. ANd the Terrance Higgins Society suggest that a 6 wks negative test will stay that way. SO, as you can see there are areas of dispute internationally. However, it does seem consistent that the three month test (without additional risky behaviors) would be somewhat conclusive.

For me, the bottom line would be that the poster needs to check with their physician and research (not on the internet) their predicament.

And, as usual, thanks to Mr. Jon for allowing me to steal your thunder. chris
I completely agree w/you cflas--but where health depts go they'll wanna see you again in 3 mos. if you were exposed...I can sure say my infectivity took a good 6mo's incubation...

But did you have symptoms? I was never symptomatic until I was tested eleven yrs ago and came up positive. In fact, if it hadn't been for the test, I would never have know I was poz until I may have become ill. chris

THE PERCENTAGE TO TEST POS AFTER SUCH A SHORT TIME WOULD BE SMALL...Youll JUST HAVE TO TEST AGAIN>Dont trust a 10 week test (or12)
wait'll 6mos.

In some very very rare cases a person can test as late as 6 months BUT in most cases the tests are sensative to detect at 3 months .
The cdc recomends that in the case of exposure a 3 month test be given with a ( FOLLOW UP RETEST ) at 6 months for an accuracy rate of 99.9% and at the 3 month mark 90-95% accuracy .
When the ( ELISA ) test was first given it was very inaccurate and was giving many ( FALSE POSATIVES ) which the secondary test known as the ( WESTERN BLOT ) was given .
The second version of the ( ELISA ) was not as sensative and in many cases it was not able to detect until 6 months with a backup ( WESTERN BLOT )
The ( ELISA ) given and the standard test for primary testing is an ( ELISA GENERATION 3 ) and is able to detect at 3 months any reactive anti-hiv-antibodies and also there is the ( PCR ) or ( POLYMARASE CHAIN REACTION TEST )
I'm not sure when or for how long you have been + or what kind of exposure you had BUT in very rare cases people do test + and if at the 6 month mark the result is NEGATIVE then they are NEGATIVE .
BUT in the case of an already weakend immune system due to
1) iv drug use
2) organ transplant recipent ( because of immune surpressing medications )
3) auto-immune diseases
4)receiving ( PEPS ) or intense ( ANTI-RETROVIRAL THERAPY )
5) cancer
6) a low white blood cell count due to some other reasons
7) bone marrow problems
And the list goes on
YES in some ( AND I STRESS ) very rare cases it is possable to test at 6 months and get a posative result BUT IN MOST CASES 3 months is enough time for detectable antibodies to show up .
A person with normal immune function will avarage 3 months and at 6 months there test is conclusive .
All the other reasons givin will define a 6 month to a 1 year ( follow up ) test .
When hiv hits the body it replicates to very very high numbers ( upwards to the millions ) but over a few months the immune system can cut the numbers down quite considerably and then it becomes a stand off and also a game of hide and seek between the immune system and the virus .
90-95% will show up posative or negative and 5-10% will show posative or negative .
But a year with normal immune function and normal functioning immune system is a bit outdated .......... :nono:
Just thought I would give my oppnion .......
In good health ..............
............. Lost Spirit ..................

Have to agree with Cflas, 12 week post exposure usually shows anti-bodies. Although I am not ruling out later sero conversion but that is the norm. And, yes if you test neg at three months by all means test again at six for peace of mind........Safe sex prevents the transmission of this dis-ease and of course not engaging in other risky behaviours. :angel: