In need of a hiv specialist

[poeboy1979]

I was involved in a short lived relationship with a former female co worker. We had unprotected sex numerous times during the two month relationship until she was fired. A few weeks later I fell ill and began getting paranoid. I had a antibody test and a rna viral load test at two month and the elisa returned non reactive and the the viral load was undetectable. I tried moving on but at 11 months I again became paranoid after getting sick and had another elisa and a hiv rna pcr viral load test that again it returned non reactive and undetectable respectively and finally another elisa at 14 months. Is it possible to have hiv with those tests returning negative? My overall health has deteriorated and with this constance sickness and elevated liver enyzmes it really has me thinking that somehow I am infected. I would greatly appreciate your medical opinion. Many thanks

P.s. I posted this question on the international site but I realized that I might not get a response until tomorrow so I'm posting it here as well.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the thanks; I'm glad to have helped.  As implied by my reply above, "late seroconversion" is an urban myth -- ever since development and use of the modern, standard HIV tests in routine use the past 15 years.  So truly, don't worry any more about this.

[poeboy1979]

Thank you for replying Dr. Handsfield! Yes, I've seen my primary physician numerous time and all my bloodwork were ordered by her. I've been struggling for over six months now to get rid of bronchitis and numerous upper respiratory infections that doesn't want to go away and had me wondering if somthing was damaging my immune system. Also late seroconverion had me terrified that somehow I was positive but my test was not showing yet. And my liver ultra sound came back with non alcoholic fatty liver so I have to lose weight and eat better. I will do my best to stop thinking about it. Thanks Dr. Handsfield fot your info and take care.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

The HIV tests are among the most accurate of all diagnostic tests for any medical condition.  Therefore, HIV testing always overrules exposure history and symptoms, as long as testing is done sufficiently long after the last potential exposure to the virus.  That timing is 4-8 weeks after exposure, depending on the specific test or combination of 2 or more tests.

Therefore, your test results prove you didn't catch HIV.  That would be the case even if you had a truly high risk exposure (you did not -- this sounds like a very low risk situation for HIV), and even if you had typical symptoms of an HIV infection (which you do not).

In direct reply to your specific question, the answer is no:  it is not possible "...to have hiv with those tests returning negative".

You don't say whether you have been medically evaluated by a doctor or clinic.  If not, that of course should be your next step. In the meantime, you can be 100% your symptoms are not due to HIV, and almost certainly not caused by any infection of any kind from your former partner.

I hope these comments have helped.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD