Hello Dr. HHH/ Dr. EWH,
I'm a straight male. I have taken a HIV I & II Antigen and Antibody Screening Test 12 weeks after my exposure, which should be considered low risk as I read some of the previous threads here. Unprotected Oral Sex and Protected Vaginal Sex, both insertive to a commercial sex worker. Result is non-reactive.
During the window period, I have stopped smoking. I'm quite prone to mouth ulcers and quitting smoking made the mouth ulcers happened more frequent.
Because of that, I use Liquid Lotion for the mouth ulcers called 'Muco-Aid', which probably you never heard of, but it is available in pharmacies in my country. Each gram Muco-Aid contains Lignocaine HCl 2.5%w/v, Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1%w/v, Chlorhexidine HCl 0.5%w/v. The Muco-Aid is a bottle of liquid lotion, which weigh around 8g. I actually used few times in the window period of 12 weeks. Probably few days before testing too, even a day before testing. I cannot remember the exactly when did I put the lotion in my mouth for ulcers.
I have read somewhere that steroid might delay antibodies production of HIV making the test result not accurate. In this case is Triamcinolone Acetonide. However, my guess is that Muco-Aid probably has low or very low Triamcinolone Acetonide with 0.1%w/v that should not have any affect on body's immune system nor hiding the HIV antibodies. But, I'm not a chemist or doctor. So, I need your advice.
1. Did the Muco-Aid lotion affect my HIV Test?
2. Mouth ulcers lotion with steroid is consider topical or systemic steroid? I read in your previous threads topical steroids have least affects.
3. I have read that steroids will not affect a Duo Test. Is this right?
4. Do I need to re-test?
Please help, Doctor. Chemistry and Biology are really complicated. By the way, apart from HIV Test, I have did other STD Tests too like VDRL, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. All negatives. I do not have any symptoms of STD.
Thanks.