Levels of p24 antigen increase significantly at about one to three weeks after initial infection. It is during this time frame before HIV antibody is produced when the p24 test is useful in helping to diagnose infection. About 2-8 weeks after exposure, antibodies to HIV are produced and remain detectable in response to the infection, making the HIV antibody test the most useful assay to diagnose an infection.
From the Freedomhealth point of view, using as described above the combined knowledge and experience of the team we regard the HIV DUO test as a conclusive HIV test at 28 days or beyond in almost all circumstances.
it is almost always the case that a negative HIV DUO test at 28 dyas or more will be conclusive and will not need repeating.
几乎所有的病例在28天运用4代测验或者更多天都是可断定是否感染,并且不需要更进一步的测验。
The 4th generation combined tests will shorten the time from infection to diagnosis by 1-2 weeks over the older 3rd generation HIV tests. The older 3rd generation tests are excellent and will still identify the majority of new HIV infections by 6 weeks.
The HIV antibody/p24 antigen Duo Test is an excellent, accurate and inexpensive HIV test that reliably detects HIV infection that occurred just 28 days prior to the test. This HIV test is known as the 'Duo' because it tests for both HIV antibodies as well as the 'HIV P24 antigen'. The HIV p24 antigen is a core HIV viral protein which becomes detectable at approximately 10 days post exposure, peaks at 16 days or so and then remains at high level for 8 to 10 weeks post exposure. It will then fluctuate over the rest of the course of the illness. HIV p24 antigen is extremely useful in combination with an HIV antibody test in determining early on whether an individiual has been infected with HIV. The HIV DUO test is extremely accurate at 28 days and is now the test recommended by the new UK Guidelines on HIV testing 2008.