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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Testing after a rape
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.
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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.
Testing after a rape
by jenn8283, Nov 09, 2006 12:00AM
I was raped six weeks ago. A man broke into my house and raped me while I was sleeping. I woke to him yell profane words at me and told me he gave me hiv. I took a six week hiv test today. Two weeks after the rape I was not sure if he came back and raped me again b/c my clothes were on a little different and I had a lot of wetness.
My question is the six week test conclusive even if i might have been violated two weeks after the first incodent?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 10, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 10, 2006 12:00AM
All I can say is that a test 6 weeks after the last exposure is close to 100% certain. However, after sexual assault, most authorities recommend a final test 3 months after the event.
You're the only one who can judge whether or not you were sexually assaulted a second time. Just be sure you are tested a final time at least 3 months after the last possible exposure. But in the meantime, the negative result 6 weeks after the first event (possibly only 4 weeks after a second event) still is highly reassuring.
You need to be tested for other STDs as well, if that hasn't been done.
HHH, MD
You're the only one who can judge whether or not you were sexually assaulted a second time. Just be sure you are tested a final time at least 3 months after the last possible exposure. But in the meantime, the negative result 6 weeks after the first event (possibly only 4 weeks after a second event) still is highly reassuring.
You need to be tested for other STDs as well, if that hasn't been done.
HHH, MD
You're not sure???? I doubt anyone sleeps through a rape..
I'm new in this forum. After reading many threads i'm a little confused about your answers.
You recommend in this thread a 3 month test. However in your previous answers you said 6-8 weeks are enough.
For example: in a thread from 28/10 you say "You do not need HIV testing at 12 and 24 weeks; a single test at 6-8 weeks would be sufficient."
How can a rape be so different from any other sexual exposures?
Please answer me as I'm approaching my 6 week mark and obviously i'm under a lot of pressure.
Thank you very much
The higher the risk, the more important to have a late test at say 3 months. This has been discussed in detail; search the archives for "time to positive HIV test" and "HIV diagnosis".
HHH, MD
I did search in the archives but couldn't find what's different about rape.
What do you mean by saying "The higher the risk, the more important to have a late test at say 3 months"?
I'm sorry if it seems that i'm repeating my question but i just couldn't understand why the risk is higher in rape even after searching the archives.
Moreover, if tests are indeed conclusive after 6-8 weeks why would i have to test after 3 months?
Should i wait 3 months to get tested?
Once again- thank you very much.
P.S: I know I have lost it
Assume a low risk exposure, like a typical heterosexual exposure with a partner of unknown (but probably negative) HIV status. Say the odds someone acquired HIV were 1 chance in 100,000. Now assume a test is 95% accurate at 4 weeks and 99.9% accurate at 3 months. After a negative test at 4 weeks, the odds the person has HIV (despite the test result) is 0.00001 x 0.05 = 0.0000005. That's 5 in 10 million, or once chance in 2 million. That's so low to be considered zero. (It's 75 time LESS than the lifetime chance of someone living in the US being killed by a lightning strike!)
Now assume a very high risk exposure, like a gay man who has unprotected anal sex with a known-infected partner (or being raped by an infected man). The odds of infection might be 1%, i.e. 1 in 100. Test negative at 4 weeks. The odds the person has HIV despite the negative test are 0.01 x 0.05 - 0.0005. That's 1 chance in 2000. Pretty low, and the test result is reassuring. But not nearly reassuring enough; most people will not accept a 1 in 2000 risk of being infected an not knowing it. Therefore, that person needs another test at 3 months. At that time, a negative test result translates into 0.01 x 0.001 = 0.00001, 1 chance in 100,000.
Same test, but the differenence in circumstances leads to different levels of reassurance. The bottom line is that the higher the risk, the more important it is to carry out testing to a later time, such as 8 weeks or even 3 months. The lower the risk, the less it matters to wait that long.
Only you can decide whether you "need" testing as long as 3 months after exposure. But for most people, a single test at 4-6 weeks is sufficient. (If you're going to worry about the possibility of HIV despite a risk of less than 1 in a million, I have to assume you never drive, don't cross busy streets, and never take commercial flights--all of which have a much higher chance of killing you.)
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
Good luck to you and take care.
I'm not sure I understood your statement.
If I had high risk situation (sex with HIV+ person)- do I need the 3 months test (because 6 weeks won't be 100%)?
Again, thank you very much.
Show some respect to the original poster and start your own thread. Or, just so I don't get the forum police jumping on me, at least post your questions in another thread.
I wish you well.