Q and A

Question

Should I wait 17 days to test or pay privately?

2 August 2010. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission.

Hi

I fell so lost. I put myself in a very risky situation. I have been to my GP and they suggested if i was this nervous they would order me a multiplex test. I searched online and called the lab where they do the testing. They said the test is 99% accurate after 10 days however I have to wait 7 days from the day I send the sample back, so that would be thursday they get it and then if it takes 5 days to do – 11th august then 1-2 days for post? bringing my exposure to exactly 3 weeks, on that day?

Should i just test next monday with a duo for free – at 17 days would that give me a good indication or should i wait? or go for that test please any advice is greatly appreciated – this test is also costing me 96.00 which i don't mind but its the time frame.

Thanks

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

The vast majority of people who test for HIV have been at very low risk of catching HIV.

Over 99% of tests each year in the UK produce HIV negative results.

While it sounds like you are worrying a lot about this now, HIV is a very difficult virus to catch sexually, especially if you do not know your partner was even HIV-positive. Even then the risk is estimated as perhaps 1 in 300 for anal sex any 1 in 1000 for vaginal sex. These are only estimated figures just to give you an idea that the risk from one exposure is generally low. If your partner was HIV-positive and on treatment, these risk would be even lower still.

I don’t know anything of your circumstances, but medically, nothing would be different if you found out you were positive a few days earlier.

Whether you want to spend £100 on a private test is your personal decision, but in the UK there is no need to do this, as routine fourth generation tests such as DUO will detect 95% of infections by 4 weeks after exposure.

12 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Prince,

    Please see question one here:
    https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions

  2. prince •

    i slept with my girlfriend 10 days ago. now she claimed she slept with her ex boyfriend the day before we slept. now she called me to confirm she tested positive for the virus and that the ex also is saying the same thing. i also tested 8days after we had sex and am negative. Pls i want to know how accurate this information is.
    is there a possibility i am actually negative?. i will be glad for a prompt response. thanks.

  3. tina •

    Hi charlie, Many thanks for the advice – much appreciated

  4. Charlotte Walker •

    yes to both of you, Matt and Tina – if you are negative at 18 days you do not have HIV.

  5. tina •

    Charlie,

    Thanks for the reply it has really calmed me down! and im sure if that much blood was thrown in mny face i would know right?

    Just to calm myself i am taking a test on tuesday – thats 18 days spot on for a test is that ok?

    Regards tina

  6. matt •

    Hi charlie,

    you guys are great at giving out information really fast! i have read the forum and just to calm my nerves booked a test next week 18 days post exposure – i see you say that 2-3 weeks is reliable so if negative am i negative : )

  7. Charlotte Walker •

    Hi Tina,

    In theory this would be possible but in realist there has never been a case of someone getting HIV this way. It would have to be a lot of blood with a very high viral load (amount of virus in the blood) for it to even be a possibility. You have nothing to worry about.

    Thanks
    Charlie

  8. tina •

    Thanks for the advice and link – although I could not get any GUM clinic where I live to give me a test at 3 weeks. So I guess I will just hang on till the end of the month. My exposure was not really sexual – it was a blood spat to the eye while stopping a fight what are the risks there? I have read really HIV is a STI – and that there are only really few factors in transmission and the eye is not a good one? I was wondering if you could shed any light this please?

  9. Simon Collins •

    Hi Tina

    This is all covered in the FAQ pages and related links:
    https://i-base.info/qa/faq/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  10. tina •

    hi simon thanks for the very quick email.

    so if i just waited till next week monday – and had the test done for free would that give me a good indication. like i said that would be 17 days after expoaure sorry to sound like a baby! and yes the fugures are re assuring thank – and a lot of people do say that hiv is hard to catch-

    can i ask once the duo test has been done say 28 days after for complete saftey – is that all i would not need any furthet testing