Question
Should I have a PCR or a Duo test?
29 June 2010. Related: All topics, HIV testing.
Hi there.
I will not go into great detail about what has happened as I’m not sure exactly what did. I’m so scared that I might have picked up something that I am going out of my mind.
A doctor has told me to have a PCR – RNA kind of test. It’s quiet expensive and then I was told I had to go back and have a HIV duo test which is another hundred quid.
I want to know if I had this test is it conclusive, the PCR or can I have 2 p24 tests.
My so-called exposure was 1 week ago. So could I have a HIV DUO next week and have a near accurate result and then just chase it up in 2 weeks?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
The PCR test is not as accurate as the duo or tri-dot p24 tests but it is more likely to show results earlier than the other tests. The Duo/Tri-Dot/p24 tests will detect 95% of infections at 4 weeks after exposure. For more information please see this link
If the tests are expensive then you do not need to pay for them unless you really want to go private. Anyone in the UK can go to a GUM clinic and get HIV tests for free. You do not have to let your GP know and you can even give a false name if you are worried about confidentiality.
For more information please call the treatment information phoneline Mon-Wed 12-4pm.
Yes
Hi! Your replies are very informative….thanks for that. Are the Tridot and Duo tests equally sensitive and specific?
Oh wow thanks ever so much.. my email address is tina1330@yahoo.co.uk , I am located in Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Hello,
The 28-day test should be available free of charge from all GUM clinics. If you ask the nurse or doctor for a ‘4th generation’ test then they are all 28-days tests. It used to be that they would only give the 3 months test (3rd generation). If your local clinic still insists that they don’t do 4th generation tests then you can go to another centre which does offer them free of charge. If you want to e-mail me with your location I can tell you where the nearest centre is to you which offers the 4th generation test.
Hi and thank you for the response, if the test is accurate after 3 weeks say I have 2 p24 tests one at the 2 week mark and then 1 at the 28-day mark would the first one be reliable or simply a waste of money?
I know you can have a free HIV test but the ones I have enquired about here are 3 months plus and I cannot wait longer than 4 weeks : )