Is the nucleic acid method accurate for HIV testing? Do I need to test again after 3 weeks using the nucleic acid method?

AIDS has spread throughout the world. Advanced testing methods can more quickly and accurately detect whether high-risk groups are carriers of the HIV virus. So what is the significance of the most advanced HIV nucleic acid testing methods currently available in the world?

The significance of HIV nucleic acid testing

The emergence of HIV nucleic acid detection has undoubtedly increased the safety of blood testing. Relevant national laws stipulate that infections caused by blood sources during the window period are not considered medical accidents. The original immunological detection methods all have a certain window period. After the human body is infected with HIV, it usually takes 2-6 weeks to detect HIV antibodies, which poses a great threat to blood safety. HIV nucleic acid testing is routinely used for HIV screening in blood stations. Doing so can greatly reduce the residual risk of HIV infection after blood transfusion. In the late 1990s, blood stations in many developed countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom began to use nucleic acid testing screening as a supplement to serological testing screening, thereby reducing the risk of transfusion virus transmission infection. According to the recommendations of AIDS research experts, my country's blood station system should conduct HIV nucleic acid testing on unpaid blood donors as early as possible to eliminate the risk of blood donation from infected people in the "window period" and ensure the safety of medical blood use.

There are two reasons why the HIV nucleic acid test needs to be retested.

1. Any test may have false positives. That is, it is caused by oversensitivity and is mistakenly diagnosed as positive. Similarly, when you use nucleic acid detection methods to detect whether you have been infected with HIV, you may encounter false positives or false negatives. Therefore, you need to give the antibodies some time to grow after 3 months, and then do an HIV test (go to the local CDC for HIV screening and confirmation tests, and draw blood once); or go to a certain Tmall or JD.com to buy regular HIV test strips after three appointments, test the antibody situation, and then compare it with the virus situation of the nucleic acid test. Once again, I emphasize that the final confirmation, or diagnosis, still has to be done at the CDC. If you are very worried, you can find their phone number and call them to ask if they are friendly.

2. HIV testing, according to national regulations and the operating methods of various health agencies, requires two steps. The first step is the initial screening test for HIV, which is usually fingertip blood, venous blood, or the latest technology to extract specific saliva. Depending on the test method you choose, the time you need to wait is different. Therefore, the nucleic acid test you mentioned is still a type of initial screening test. The second popular step is the HIV confirmation test. At this time, venous blood must be drawn for WB confirmation and nucleic acid testing to test whether you have the virus; and the viral load; at the same time, test whether you have antibodies, so that the two can be compared. [The most important thing is not to worry too much. God has taught us humans to grow seven kinds of fruits. The first one is love, and the second one is joy. Joy means to feel happy no matter what the situation is, instead of sadness or fear. It sounds empty, but at this time, you can only comfort yourself and accept God's arrangement, no matter what it is, and how you treat the future.] I wish you good luck. It's okay.