Duel

[Biggs47]

Hey doc after my last possible exposure I had HIV tests with rapid at 8 weeks and 11 weeks.  One with a swab other with unigold. Both neg.  my quick question is if I had caught hcv to would that delay a positive result for HIV?  Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, I haven't changed my mind about time to positive results.  Here is a thread that discusses why official advice remains 3 months even though the results are reliable sooner than that.  Read the entire thread; the important information is in the follow-up discussion:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/-A-Question-on-Testing/show/1347755

[Biggs47]

Thanks doc....1 final ?....I read from previous posts that u consider 6 weeks conclusive for HIV rapid tests....anything that would delay that window pasted 11 weeks?  Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question.

The straightforward answer is no; a new HCV infection doesn't have any effect on HIV test reliability or the time to positive HIV results.

If your exposure was blood related (e.g., shared injection equipment), then HCV might have been a risk; or if it was bloody/traumatic anal sex between men.  That's the only known circumcstance in which HCV is sexually transmitted.  Although it has gained a reputation as an STD, HCV is almost never transmitted heterosexually -- so if that's the nature of your exposure, you can be sure you weren't at risk for HCV.

Regards--  HHH, MD