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STDs (Expert Forum)
PCRDNA Question for HIV2
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
PCRDNA Question for HIV2
by rook_pup, Nov 24, 2004 12:00AM
Hello Dr. H,
I have a question. I had an encounter with a girl in Venezuela (unknown status) last Feb. We had protected sex and I don't think the condom broke.
However, being nervous, I went in and got a PCRDNA test at 6 weeks and 9 weeks after possible exposer and it was negative. I also took a Home Access test at 12 weeks at it was also negative. My doctor gave me an Elisa test (HIV1) at 6 months and it was negative as well.
I talked to the place down in LA where I took the PCRDNA test and they stated it also looked for HIV-2 and since that I was negative twice, that I was ok. My PCP also believes I'm fine and that I need to stop worrying about this.
Please let me know what you think. Do I need to take an Elisa HIV-2 specific test. Should I even worry about it?
Thank you for your help!!
T
I have a question. I had an encounter with a girl in Venezuela (unknown status) last Feb. We had protected sex and I don't think the condom broke.
However, being nervous, I went in and got a PCRDNA test at 6 weeks and 9 weeks after possible exposer and it was negative. I also took a Home Access test at 12 weeks at it was also negative. My doctor gave me an Elisa test (HIV1) at 6 months and it was negative as well.
I talked to the place down in LA where I took the PCRDNA test and they stated it also looked for HIV-2 and since that I was negative twice, that I was ok. My PCP also believes I'm fine and that I need to stop worrying about this.
Please let me know what you think. Do I need to take an Elisa HIV-2 specific test. Should I even worry about it?
Thank you for your help!!
T
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 25, 2004 12:00AM
, Nov 25, 2004 12:00AM
You are being overly concerned; I would not have recommended any testting except an HIV-1 ELISA test the first time you visited the doctor. There was no indication for PCR testing. Consider the odds: Let's say a 10% chance your Venezuelan partner has HIV. Then roughly 1 chance in 1000 you would catch it from her, without a condom. Then assume condom is 90% protective (it's probably closer to 99%). With those assumptions, the odds you caught HIV were 1 in 100,000, probably more like 1 in a million. An HIV ELISA 6 weeks later will pick up over 99% of infections; so that negative result would have reduced your chance of having HIV to somewhere between 1 in 10 million to 100 million--longer odds than most state lotteries! So your 2 PCR tests and the Home Access test (which is just another ELISA)--which together probably cost you or your health insurance at least $500--were wasted. Your PCP should have advised you against testing (perhaps s/he did that but you insisted). No you don't need a separate HIV-2 ELISA; not only have you been tested, but HIV-2 is rare in South America.
By now you know my response to your last question: No, you shouldn't worry about it. Your PCP is right.
Sorry for the long response; my intent isn't just to lecture you, but to document for other forum readers why they also shouldn't get very worked up about HIV risk after a single high-risk sexual exposure.
Happy Thanksgiving-- HHH, MD
By now you know my response to your last question: No, you shouldn't worry about it. Your PCP is right.
Sorry for the long response; my intent isn't just to lecture you, but to document for other forum readers why they also shouldn't get very worked up about HIV risk after a single high-risk sexual exposure.
Happy Thanksgiving-- HHH, MD
I will put this to rest. If there is anything I could do to contribute money to a charity for you, please let me know. I would rather it go there then to the Labs!!
thanks again!