Q and A

Question

Do I have to produce HIV testing certificates to work abroad?

14 September 2010. Related: All topics, HIV testing.

I’m slightly confused. I am planning to have a HIV test as a baseline in 1 weeks time. My exposure was not really from a person but from blood to blood contact. I am having a test done as a precaution which happens to be exactly 3 weeks after my exposure. I have been told to have the test done again after 4 weeks and then again after 6 weeks but I’m not sure why?

Looking on your website it says 3-4 weeks after is good and 28 days plus conclusive? why would my GUM clinic say this?

Also I am planning to work abroad and they need me to test – I know the first one is no good as it still in my window period but they want me to give them 2 certificates of the ones I am going to do after? Have they got the right to do that and why would they not class the last one done after 28 days as ok?

Thanks

Answer

Answer: Charlotte Walker

Thank you for your question.

I am assuming you are writing from the UK? Therefore I will answer as if you are and if I am wrong you will have to let me know.

The time at which a test is conclusive depends on the type of test you have. If you have a fourth generation test which checks for antigens and antibodies then it will detect 95% of infections at 28 days and is conclusive at 90 days. Some clinics still operate on old policies for third generation tests which only look for antibodies and so would require a test between 6-12 weeks for it to be conclusive.

You mention that you are planning to work abroad but you did not say which country or for how long. Different countries have different policies on HIV testing. Without knowing which country you are going to it is hard for me to explain why they are asking for 2 tests. In general countries with free healthcare are reluctant to treat HIV in visitors due to the cost of treatment.

It is possible they are asking for two certificates to rule out the possibility of a false negative which could occur during the window period. False negatives are more likely to occur with third generation tests as it takes longer to make antibodies than for antigens found on the surface of the virus to be detected.

Immigration laws and policies regarding HIV testing are individual for each country and unfortunately you have to abide by these rules and produce any documentation they require.

For more information on testing please follow this link

6 comments

  1. amy •

    Thank you charlie, your help is much appreciated – i will make an appointment with my GP and see what they say and have 1 test at the clinic.

    Great website – fantastic resources,

    Thanks to you and the team

  2. Charlotte Walker •

    Hi Amy,

    The test is accurate at 3-4 weeks after an exposure. However, officially GUM clinics will only state that it is conclusive after 28 days. The 6 week test would just be to satisfy the Russian immigration service from what you have told me. Having 2 tests would make it a definite result. Your GP is likely to send the blood sample to the nearest laboratory at your local hospital. They will perform a fourth generation test such as the DUO test and send the results back to the GP.

    Best wishes

    Charlie

  3. amy •

    Sorry forgot to ask, I went to my GP do they do the HIV DUO test or just a standard 3rd generation test? Thanks

  4. amy •

    Hi Charlie,

    Okay that’s great, so this test is conclusive after 28 days? Should I wait until 6 weeks? Sorry just getting confused as the website and many others state that the test is accurate 3-4 weeks. So 6 weeks would make it definite?

    Sorry to be a pain
    Amy

  5. Charlotte Walker •

    Hi Amy,

    Thanks for getting back to me. It makes sense that your company would want a confirmatory test. Even though at 28 days the test is conclusive and accurate, there is a very small chance (less than 5%) that it could be a false negative or false positive result. A second test should make it 100% accurate.

    If your GUM clinic feel that having a second test is a waste of resources then they can in theory refuse you a test. If your company are willing to pay for the test privately then you could go private although I should think it would be more expensive than £35 a test. Alternatively go to 2 different GUM clinics, at 28 days and then at 6-7 weeks. GUM clinics do not share information unless you ask them to so they wouldn’t know you had already had a test. Similarly you could do the second test at your GP clinic without having to tell them about the first test. As long as you get certificates of both tests your company should be happy.

    To get a work visa for Russia, the country policy states that you need clinical proof to ‘certify that the applicant is free of HIV’. This is probably why your company are insistent on the tests.

    Best wishes

    Charlie

  6. amy •

    Hi Charlie,

    I plan to work in Russia, I have booked my test now, exactly 28 days after exposure and told the company, they explained that I need to have another test done to confirm the test result. So I guess that makes sense? This would be 6 – 7 weeks with a DUO test

    My GUM clinic have refused to do this and I have no idea why? The company are paying for the test £35 for each one? Should I go to my doctor and ask him to write me a letter stating I need the tests or what?

    The test I am having is the DUO test I believe?

    Yes I am writing from the UK sorry.