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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Are my HIV Tests conclusive from my exposure?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum is limited to prevention of HIV and to safe sex in general. If you believe you might have been exposed to HIV and want help to judge your risk, would like advice about HIV testing, or have questions about the effectiveness of condoms or the risks associated with specific sexual practices, this is the site for you.
IMPORTANT
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
Are my HIV Tests conclusive from my exposure?
by scaredgrl85, Jul 06, 2007 12:00AM
I had unprotected sex on April 11th of this year. He said he got tested after our encounter and was negative for HIV which would make it 5 1/2 months since his last encounter before me. I don't know how much I can trust that he was telling me the truth of his result. My paps have been normal for the last 2 years up until now. This guy had chlamydia (he later tested positive) and gave it to me. I was tested for gonorrhea, herpes 1/2, hep c/b, syphilis and HIV. I only tested positive for herpes type 1 only because I've had it all my life.
1- Tested for HIV at 6 weeks with the Oral Rapid test-negative
2- Tested for HIV at 8 weeks with the EIA blood test-negative
3- Tested again for HIV at 12 weeks with Oral Rapid test-negative
How accurate are my results? Is it possible that I can test positive later on for HIV since the CDC says it MIGHT take up to 6 months? I know my risk is low because it was one encounter, but he did have chlamydia and I know that increases the risk of HIV transmission. My pap recently came back as abnormal (ASCUS). My gyn did a colposcopy and biopsy and said he didn't see any genital warts and said that my cervix looks very inflamed. My HPV test came back as negative so can I say that my history of HPV has nothing to do with my abnormal pap? Can HIV have something to do with my abnormal pap? Thank You!
1- Tested for HIV at 6 weeks with the Oral Rapid test-negative
2- Tested for HIV at 8 weeks with the EIA blood test-negative
3- Tested again for HIV at 12 weeks with Oral Rapid test-negative
How accurate are my results? Is it possible that I can test positive later on for HIV since the CDC says it MIGHT take up to 6 months? I know my risk is low because it was one encounter, but he did have chlamydia and I know that increases the risk of HIV transmission. My pap recently came back as abnormal (ASCUS). My gyn did a colposcopy and biopsy and said he didn't see any genital warts and said that my cervix looks very inflamed. My HPV test came back as negative so can I say that my history of HPV has nothing to do with my abnormal pap? Can HIV have something to do with my abnormal pap? Thank You!
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jul 06, 2007 12:00AM
, Jul 06, 2007 12:00AM
With modern HIV tests, it never takes more than 3 months (and rarely more than 6 weeks) for HIV tests to become positive. CDC's 6 month advice is partly driven by medicolegal caution, i.e. a CYA attitude. You can be 100% confident you didn't catch HIV.
ASCUS is so common on paps that it's virtually a normal finding. The causes in cases not associated with HPV aren't knonw, but most of the time the problem just goes away with repeat pap testing. The inflammation of your cervix might have something to do with it. But the biopsy is the gold standard--that result will trump the HPV test and the pap test itself. Follow your provider's advice for further care, based on the biopsy result.
You don't have HIV, and HIV has nothing at all to do with your pap or biopsy results.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
ASCUS is so common on paps that it's virtually a normal finding. The causes in cases not associated with HPV aren't knonw, but most of the time the problem just goes away with repeat pap testing. The inflammation of your cervix might have something to do with it. But the biopsy is the gold standard--that result will trump the HPV test and the pap test itself. Follow your provider's advice for further care, based on the biopsy result.
You don't have HIV, and HIV has nothing at all to do with your pap or biopsy results.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
I have never seen a single case of HIV infection following the sort of exposure you describe or in someone with your relatively low risk lifestyle. And I have never seen anyone turn positive at any time after being negative at 6 weeks. It can happen but is rare.
Thanks for the thanks about the forum. Take care.
I swear this is my last question, I got my pathology results today but my doctor isn't available to interpret them and I'm just freaking out so much at this point. This is what it stated, I hope you can help me,
1- Squamous lined mucosa showing no significant change scene.
2- Transformation zone not identified.
3- Cervical T Zone biopsy showing squamous metaplasia.
4- Endocervical epithelial fragments and lower uterine segments endometrium with stromal breakdown.
Please if you can help me in any way with this information, I'd truly appreciate it. Thank you.
You've been very kind to me and I truly appreciate all your help. My biopsy came out negative (very happy about that!) but the doctor said that I have chronic cervicitis. He's going to corto the cervix and hopefully all my symptoms will disappear. This is going to sound a little neurotic, but I read that chronic cervicitis can be an indication of HIV infection, do you agree with this? I took HIV out of my head but now it's haunting me again. Please I would appreciate it if you have any advice relating to my situation. Thank You.
You've been very kind to me and I truly appreciate all your help. My biopsy came out negative (very happy about that!) but the doctor said that I have chronic cervicitis. He's going to corto the cervix and hopefully all my symptoms will disappear. This is going to sound a little neurotic, but I read that chronic cervicitis can be an indication of HIV infection, do you agree with this? I took HIV out of my head but now it's haunting me again. Please I would appreciate it if you have any advice relating to my situation. Thank You.