Stress. You really have no meaningful reason to be concerned. Your next test will be negative as well. EWH
Hello again Dr. H. I hope you don't mind another question. My 4 week test came back negative, but I am still quite worried. I have developed a sore throat and a headache over the last week. Could this be a sign of late conversion or just stress. UG. I feel so foolish.
At 4 weeks your test would detect aqbout 90% of HIV infections. AT 8 weeks the test will detect over 99%. Thus while your 4 week test is reassuring, the 8 week test will be still more definitive. EWH
Thank you for your advice and reassurance. Just 1 question, you said at 8 weeks. I was tested at the 4 week mark. I should go back in another month then?
Welcome to our Forum. I think that the best way I can help you to think about this is to put your risk in perspective using numbers from the U.S. which, for illustrative purposes are, if anything a more conservative estimate that is the case for Canada. There are over 350 million people living in the United States of whom 1 million have HIV. Thus, on the basis of this fact alone your chances of having HIV are less than 3 in 1000. Then, realizing that most infections are among men who have sex with other men (over 2/3rds), drug users (over 10%) and minorities, the chances that your partner was infected are still lower. Then, your odds of getting HIV, IF HE WAS INFECTED, are less than 1 in 1000 exposures. Thus, your odds of infection are somewhat less than 1 in half a million at that point. Clearly, the odds are in your favor (this is not an endorsement of unprotected sex, just a statement of the risk).
I realize that does not take the place of a negative test but you really have little to worry about. Since you know your partner, it is reasonable to ask him if he has been tested and, if not, ask him to get a test. When his test is negative, your risk goes to about zero since you cannot get HIV from someone who does not have HIV.
Finally, if finding out his HIV status cannot be done, the advice that you need to be tested at 3 and 6 months is overly conservative. At the present time, in your situation, test results at 8 weeks can be considered as definitive.
I hope these comments are helpful to you. You have little to worry about. EWH