High risk HIV exposure

Dear Sir/Madam,

About 4 weeks ago i briefly had unprotected anal sex with a guy of unknown HIV status for around 2minutes. I am circumcised, i was the insertive partner and there was no ejaculation on my part. I was very drunk at the time and seem to remember him telling me he was clean but how can i be sure. I got tested 2 weeks after the exposure, as it turned out i had chlmydia, however my anxiety is killing me so next week im going for a HIV duo test as by then it should be about 5 weeks since my exposure, and all i wanted to know was realistically i know there is a risk of HIV but how much risk i.e percentage chances or '1 out of so many chance' type thing?

Thank you for your time.

[Dr Sean Cummings]

Hello

I'm so sorry but I cannot give you an estimate as to chance. The nearest I can come to that is to say that overall, as an "average" there is around about a 3% chance of acquiring HIV this way.

Averages rely on poor data and if for example, the other person was freshly infected and was unaware of this at the time, then your chances of acquiring HIV would be higher.

That said, the HIV DUO test at 5 weeks will be highly reliable and I would say conclusive. The UK Guidelines on HIV testing now recommend an HIV DUO at 4 weeks with a follow up antibody or DUO at 12 weeks depending on level of risk.

Your level of risk I would ***** to be high and so I would suggest either a follow up with a further antibody /DUO test or an RNA PCR test simultaneously with the DUO you plan. If both tests are negative, you are HIV negative.

best regards, Sean