Aa
Concerned about exposure and symptoms
Hello, I'm a 24 yo male and on June 10th had unprotected vaginal sex with a female 28 yo. We met at the bar and were drunk and am not sure about the duration but probably over 10 minutes and I know that i finished. I did not know the girl but have tried to contact her since and she will not return my calls.
Since then, I have had a standard physical with my doctor on June 19th and had some blood work done but did not have an HIV screening. The blood work showed my blood cell count to be normal and normal lymphnode function. I understand this is not an HIV screening but, my first question is, does a normal blood cell count and normal lymphnode function 9 days after exposure indicate anything about possible HIV infection?
The day after my physical I developed swollen lymphnodes under my right armpit and in my neck which resolved in a few days. Also have a sore throat and burning sensation in my eyes which are still persisting but are not constant. My body temp did not increase over 99.5, no fatigue, nausia, vomiting, rash or diahrea. Do these symptoms sound like they could be caused by ars?
I have an appointment July 9th to get tested. I'm 6'0 tall 170 lbs and in good health as of my last physical. How reliable is a test at 4 weeks and does my current health effect the window period? Also, Is this a high risk exposure?
I really appreciate what you do for the people on this site. Thank you for your help
Since then, I have had a standard physical with my doctor on June 19th and had some blood work done but did not have an HIV screening. The blood work showed my blood cell count to be normal and normal lymphnode function. I understand this is not an HIV screening but, my first question is, does a normal blood cell count and normal lymphnode function 9 days after exposure indicate anything about possible HIV infection?
The day after my physical I developed swollen lymphnodes under my right armpit and in my neck which resolved in a few days. Also have a sore throat and burning sensation in my eyes which are still persisting but are not constant. My body temp did not increase over 99.5, no fatigue, nausia, vomiting, rash or diahrea. Do these symptoms sound like they could be caused by ars?
I have an appointment July 9th to get tested. I'm 6'0 tall 170 lbs and in good health as of my last physical. How reliable is a test at 4 weeks and does my current health effect the window period? Also, Is this a high risk exposure?
I really appreciate what you do for the people on this site. Thank you for your help
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It's politically correct to say that "HIV doesn't discriminate", but that's really nonsense. In the US, HIV rates are far higher in African Americans than whites (but of course not all AAs), far higher in urban than rural areas, much more common in gay men than heterosexual men and women, and among heterosexuals, much more common in the eastern half of the country and the south than the west and north. Colorado has low rates compared to most states, and Denver has low rates compared to many comparable sized cities, especially among heterosexual men and women.
To Holdingover: Just ask your doctor or clinic. The duo test may not yet be available in local labs, but it will be soon. The major national labs like Quest or LabCorp probably will have in pretty soon, I would think. But if you have already had a negative antibody test more than 6 weeks after the last exposure, a duo test isn't needed and would be a waste of money.
To Holdingover: Just ask your doctor or clinic. The duo test may not yet be available in local labs, but it will be soon. The major national labs like Quest or LabCorp probably will have in pretty soon, I would think. But if you have already had a negative antibody test more than 6 weeks after the last exposure, a duo test isn't needed and would be a waste of money.
While I am by no means trying to be rude by hijacking this thread, I am wondering how and where I can get the DUO Test in the US?
I appreciate your reply and forgiveness of my hijack.
I appreciate your reply and forgiveness of my hijack.
Thank you for the insight. I plan to get tested for all STD's when I see the doctor next friday. One other question I forgot to ask is regarding demographic. I understand HIV does not discriminate but is the disease more prevalent in one state versus another? I live in Denver, Colorado
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum.
Responding first to the title you chose for your question, before reading anything else: We have said innumerable times that symptoms are never useful in judging whether or not someone might have HIV, because even classical symptoms of new HIV infection are identical to those of other, far more common minor infections. We judge whether or not someone might have HIV pretty much exclusively on the basis of exposure history and the results of HIV tests.
Now I have read the question. You had a somewhat risky exposure, but the risk is primarily for STDs other than HIV. The odds your partner has HIV are very low, probably on the order of 1 chance in1,000. But all bets are off for chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, etc. As implied above, your symptoms don't help judge your risk. They don't sound like HIV, which doesn't cause localized lymph node enlargements, only body-wide; and because new HIV almost always causes significant fever. But even if you had classical symptoms, it still wouldn't much increase my concern that you have HIV.
With the standard HIV antibody tests in common use in the US, 90-95% of newly infected people have positive results by 4 weeks. So when you get the negative result, it will be highly reassuring, but not 100% proof. However, you could request the newly marketed duo test, which measures both HIV antibody and the HIV P24 antigen -- i.e. it's a test for both the virus itself and the body's immune response to it. Virtually 100% newly infected people have a postive result by duo testing at 4 weeks. (Duo testing probably will become the standard for routine HIV testing in the US, as it already has become in some countries.) So if you have a duo test, that's all you will need; if an antibody-only test, you'll want a second test at 6-8 weeks to bring the certainty up to 100% you weren't infected.
Finally, don't ignore the other STDs. Most important, have a urine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia and a blood test for syphilis. (Don't worry about the herpes part if you don't have genital blisters, sores, etc.)
Don't lose a lot of sleep about the HIV as you wait to be tested. There really is no serious concern and you can expect your test(s) to be negative.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Responding first to the title you chose for your question, before reading anything else: We have said innumerable times that symptoms are never useful in judging whether or not someone might have HIV, because even classical symptoms of new HIV infection are identical to those of other, far more common minor infections. We judge whether or not someone might have HIV pretty much exclusively on the basis of exposure history and the results of HIV tests.
Now I have read the question. You had a somewhat risky exposure, but the risk is primarily for STDs other than HIV. The odds your partner has HIV are very low, probably on the order of 1 chance in1,000. But all bets are off for chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, etc. As implied above, your symptoms don't help judge your risk. They don't sound like HIV, which doesn't cause localized lymph node enlargements, only body-wide; and because new HIV almost always causes significant fever. But even if you had classical symptoms, it still wouldn't much increase my concern that you have HIV.
With the standard HIV antibody tests in common use in the US, 90-95% of newly infected people have positive results by 4 weeks. So when you get the negative result, it will be highly reassuring, but not 100% proof. However, you could request the newly marketed duo test, which measures both HIV antibody and the HIV P24 antigen -- i.e. it's a test for both the virus itself and the body's immune response to it. Virtually 100% newly infected people have a postive result by duo testing at 4 weeks. (Duo testing probably will become the standard for routine HIV testing in the US, as it already has become in some countries.) So if you have a duo test, that's all you will need; if an antibody-only test, you'll want a second test at 6-8 weeks to bring the certainty up to 100% you weren't infected.
Finally, don't ignore the other STDs. Most important, have a urine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia and a blood test for syphilis. (Don't worry about the herpes part if you don't have genital blisters, sores, etc.)
Don't lose a lot of sleep about the HIV as you wait to be tested. There really is no serious concern and you can expect your test(s) to be negative.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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