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Testing confusion

Dear Drs,

Sorry to bother you but I had a quick question thought you could clear up. I was tested for HIV on July 26. 85 days after my exposure on may 1st. The results where negative. What concerned me is the nurse told me I was negative for any exposures before I believe she said apr 26 but was not conclusive for exposures after that date. This did not include my may 1st exposure date. Being I am  in Canada she may counted 90 days as 12 weeks. Is my 85 day test result conclusive? 85 days is still 12 weeks from my exposure I don't think it matters but her statement gave me alittle concern and confusion and I felt another opinion was in order. do you think I should retest? Thank you for your time.
3 Responses
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300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the Forum.  Your test was definitively negative and you can be sure that you did not get HIV from the exposure you experienced in May. The fact of the matter is that any test more than 8 weeks (56 days) following exposure provides definitive evidence that you were not infected.  The recommendations for testing at 3 and even 6 months are the result of two factors- data from older tests no longer used (you really do not need to worry about which generation of tests you were tested with, at this time virtually all tests are far more sensitive that they were even 2-3 years ago when the 3 month recommendation was made) and secondly, the fact that some, mostly governmental agencies which have to provide recommendations for virtually everyone without the sort of interactions such as those you get with your doctor or on personalized sites such as this one, feel the cannot "afford" to be wrong and therefore make recommendations and guidelines which leave most people unnecessarily nervous for 4-6 weeks longer than the 6-8 weeks it takes virtually everyone to develop HIV antibodies.  

Bottom line- no reason for concern.  Believe your test results.  EWH
Helpful - 2
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Believe the results and put this behind you.  You did not get HIV.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks Dr. H. one finall thought. I forgot to mention that  this  test result was from july 2009 (this happened last year) and you said "tests at this time are far more sensitive then they where 2-3 years ago", would mine be just as sensitive, being a just over a year old? I had believed the results then and had  not really thought about it until now but I have just started a serious relationship with a girl and did not want to take any chances and the nurses statement started to cause me doubt.  I assume yes, but the mind does have a tendency to wonder sometimes. Thank you again for your time and support! Your work on this site really does make a difference to peoples lifes. Keep up the good work!           .
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