STD screening...

[manarak]

How long do I have to wait for results after doing a full STD test including Hep A, Hep B, HIV and Syphilis, and maybe some of the other nasties?

[Jake_Sully]

In the US I got next day results. Not sure about los.

I'd guess the busier the place, the longer it would take.

[Lefty]

I found out last year that even the small clinics can give you hiv results in about 5 minutes. The one I go to on Soi 16, did a test which to me seemed similar to a blood sugar test. They prick your finger, get a drop of blood onto a stick and a few minutes later have a reading.

Before this method, the same clinic would send your blood out to a lab, and results would be available the next day.

[Chinaman]

(Lefty @ Jun. 15 2010,11:51) I found out last year that even the small clinics can give you hiv results in about 5 minutes. The one I go to on Soi 16, did a test which to me seemed similar to a blood sugar test. They prick your finger, get a drop of blood onto a stick and a few minutes later have a reading.

Before this method, the same clinic would send your blood out to a lab, and results would be available the next day.

My question then would be, what happens in that case when the shit hit the fan - and I hope that it never does 4 anyone, but still ...

they just give you the result and you walk or are they obligated to report the case, etc., etc.

I could think of many funny (sick) answers but remaining serious here ...

[spare wheel]

In the UK if visiting a GU clinic they will do the swab's etc and results for nasty's there and then, but for bloods HIV etc you get results in 2 weeks, then stay safe if playing and recheck after 3 months and again wait 2 weeks for results.

I know a girl who went to clinic in pattaya yesterday for her monthly checks and results straight away for every thing.
not sure if the checks are as good or reliable but she said everyone go there for check ?

SW „¢

[donnykey]

Yes the clinics you get an Instant Result.

Pattaya memorial if you pay a bit extra you can get the results of a full blood test in about 2 hours.

[f0xxee]

So what happens should you be unlucky enough to test possitive to the big H? Do the Immigration polis come along in the dead of night and deport you?
There are countries in SE Asia that do: Singapore and Vietnam screen all expat workers there.

[rxpharm]

I don't think there is mandatory reporting of HIV test results in LOS. Arabian Gulf countries do the same as f0xee has posted on Singapore and Vietnam, except that HIV+ people are put in jail before deportation.

Tests that give quick results are based on testing for the HIV antibodies, and not for the actual virus. This will result in false positive tests. It has been estimated that there is an error rate of approximately 1.5% with the antibody tests, which includes both false + and false - results.

Some labs combine two different antibody tests, such as Western Blot (the older test using electrophoresis analysis) and the ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay - newer test using antibodies with specific markers that bind specifically to HIV antibodies from the blood) to reduce the error rate.

The gold standard is PCR-NAT testing - (polymerase chain reaction - nucleic acid testing). This tests specifically for the viral RNA, but takes a few days for the final results.

So the reader's digest of this is: if the lab doesn't do PCR testing - (which is the majority), your HIV test results are not certain.

[manarak]

thanks for all the replies...

So if the test subject walks in, the results can be available within a few hours if a "premium service" is used?


Accuracy questions:
- if the quick tests are 98.5 % accurate, does it make sense to make a second test of the same type?
- if the first test result is false, does this influence the results of the second test, or is the second test totally independent with full chances to test correctly? (i.e. if independent, the probability that both tests are wrong would be 0.225%, is it really so easy?)


We all get focused always on HIV, but what about HEP C test accuracy ?
Syphilis?

[Lefty]

Hi CM, hope you are well mate. I think she said, if they get a pos reading, they do another type of test to confirm it. After that, if they get a 2nd positive, I'm not sure what they do next.

[Lefty]

Manarak,
From what I can gather, most every country in the world, if you test pos for HIV they will do a 2nd test. There can be false positives for HIV but not false negatives. Even if the first test was 98% accurate, wouldn't you want a 2nd test? I would. I've also heard of people testing pos for HIV, then a year later, after taking anti virals and getting on a more holistic health regimen, testing negative. Not common but it has happened.

[manarak]

(Lefty @ Jun. 15 2010,22:17) Manarak,
From what I can gather, most every country in the world, if you test pos for HIV they will do a 2nd test. There can be false positives for HIV but not false negatives. Even if the first test was 98% accurate, wouldn't you want a 2nd test? I would. I've also heard of people testing pos for HIV, then a year later, after taking anti virals and getting on a more holistic health regimen, testing negative. Not common but it has happened.

I won't test positive.

I just want to be sure I can trust the results if I decide to get someone tested to let these silly condoms aside...

Sure, I would like to test a second or even a third time, but not if the same test just reproduces the same false result over and over.

About testing negative after infection, this is very common in Switzerland.
The therapies reduce virus count below detectable levels. But it is still there.

[Lefty]

I don't believe getting a false positive on the first test would mean one is always going to get them. That's why there is a 2nd test.

[rxpharm]

Manarak, if you want to be 100% sure about HIV, then make sure the lab offers NAT - PCR testing. This will determine if any virus is present so no false positives - but it costs more and I think only a few hospital labs have this type of analyzer, in LOS.

There are vaccinations available for Hepatiitis A and B - and it is recommended you get them.

Testing for Hepatitis C - is similar to testing for HIV, there is a test (Anti- HCV) that will detect if there are any antibodies to hepatitis C in the blood sample. This test cannot distinguish if a person has an active Hep C infection or a prior one.

If this test is "weakly postive" the follow up is usually an HCV recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) test which will confirm the presence of HCV antibodies and confirm if the Anti-HCV test was a false positive.

If it appears the patient has an active infection - then an HCV Viral Load test is done to determine how much virus is present in the system before treatment and is usually repeated after the treatment cycle to see how effective it was.

[ALASKAN BEAR]

how long are the shots good for hep A and hep B i had mine about 5 years ago,before a trip to Philippines.