HIV

Community rapid test versus a blood draw

Tested at a community outreach service with a fingerprick. Negative. Should I repeat it properly at a clinic?

grey_morning 2 months ago

NoteMember experience, not medical advice. Symptoms overlap between infections and only a test can tell them apart.

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second_tuesday 2 months ago

Rapid tests are accurate tests, they just have a longer window period than lab tests, because fingerprick blood takes longer to show what plasma shows.

So the question is not whether the test was good. It is how long ago your exposure was.

plain_paper 2 months ago

If your exposure was months back, a negative rapid test is meaningful. If it was recent, a lab test will give you a conclusive answer sooner than waiting out the rapid test window.

slow_thaw 2 months ago

Community services exist to reach people who do not go to clinics and they are not a lesser product. Mine was faster, friendlier and considerably less intimidating than a hospital.

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