I had a question about the cdc's standard
of a 6 month elisa test as being the
standard for determining if an hiv
infection has resulted from a potential
exposure. From what I have read alomst
all other counties have shortened this
time period to three months since the
elisa tests have apparently become much
more accurate since the 6 month rule was
set up many years ago.
Does the 6 month time period have any
meaning today?
Also, what is your opinion of the pcr dna
test as a diagnostic hiv test?
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kiklis2k
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 88
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Accuracy of Tests Posted: 06-29-06 02:44am
A elisa at a 3 month or a 13 week period
is almost accurate. However its
difficult to explain the word "almost" in
medical terms, as there could be rare
cases which would have ruled out that
"almost". So being on a positive side, a
elisa on a 3 month period is conclusive.
If necessary the test can be repeated
after 6 months, based on a doctors advice.
Self diagonostics is not necessary.
A pcr dna test differs from a elisa in a
way that the elisa looks for the
antibodies in the blood, which a pcr dna
looks for the actual viral load count.
However, for a first diagonostics, a pcr
dna is not recommended due to the fact
that it is highly expensive compared to a
simple elisa.
When elisa can proove, why a pcr dna.
Thats why its just used as a confirmatory
test after repeative elisa turning
positive
