Testing question, etc.

[seriously618]

Im sorry a head of time for the long post.

I had an exposure Dec 1, I tested negative on Feb 18.

I went in today to test again. The girl doing the testing said that I was negative and in the clear for my Dec 1st exposure because when I took the Feb 18 test it covered (all of November, all of
Dec all of Jan) I always thought I was supposed to calculate from Dec 1st and 3 months- meaning March 1st would've been 3 months.  She said no,  please explain this to me.

Now my second question is, she was speaking to me and said she would
Not test me bc I had to come in may 18 which would be 3 months from testing in Feb. she said May would be 6 months following my dec 1st exposure. But I'm calculating that as 5 months.

Well I ended up not being able to get tested today and I just wanted to know what should I do now. I spoke to her and a planned parenthood worker and they both said 3 and 6 months.

Is this necessary and how exactly am I supposed to count the 3 months bc she has me totally confused.

[seriously618]

Ah what a relief! Thank you for all you do here.

Have a great day!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Done for sure.  You don't have HIV.  Stop testing for it.

That will end this thread; I'll have no more comments or advice.  Best wishes.

[seriously618]

I have recieved my results. I took them at what would be 4 months and 2 weeks. They came out negative!!! Although he wrote for an HIV panel when I looked at the results from the lab it just said rapid HIV- non reactive. But that's all I wanted to see:)

I am for sure done correct doctor?  I don't need to wait until 6 months bc I took the prednisone for 2 weeks and 5 days (5mg) 3 times a day. Thank you!

[seriously618]

Oh ok, that's what I was thinking since it stated panel. I will ask him once I recieve my results- keeping my fingers crossed.

Thank you again for the advice. I should get the results in 7 days they stated.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

That terminology implies more than one test is being done, e.g. maybe an antibody test plus a direct viral test like p24 antigen or PCR.  But the specific meaning probably varies from one lab to the next.  For more detail you'll need to ask your doctor's office of the laboratory.

[seriously618]

Dr. HHH, i went in to get one final test past the 3 month mark. I decided to go to a infectious disease doctor and avoid going to any clinic all together. I explained to him the situation and he said he agreed that I should do it for piece of mind. On the paper that he gave me to give to the lab it said no HIV AB test he crossed it out and circled HIV panel. I hadnt noticed that, what does an HIV panel include?

Thanks again.

[seriously618]

I will gladly print this out and show it to her.

You have made my weekend, Dr. HHH, and put the hugest smile on my face! Thank you for the amazing things you do on here, it is truly priceless work. Have a happy healthy and safe weekend, to you and your family. Thank you.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No need for further testing, unless your anxieties persist and you decide one more negative result would help you get past them.  In that event, do it any time after 3 months.  (You could also consider printing out the other thread and showing it to the clinic nurse who insisted on 5 or 6 month testing.  If she doubts my expertise, invite her to google me or look me up on Medline, the main medical literature database.)

Thanks for the thanks about the forum.  Take care and stay safe.

[seriously618]

Thank you Dr. HHH.

I meant sorry ahead of time for my post being so long and if it was confusing with all the dates.

Thank you for adding in about the prednisone. I actually hadnt taken the prednisone yet when I took the Feb 18 test, I have been on it for about 2-3 weeks. I was on 10 mg but it was upsetting my stomach so I took 10 mg for 3 days and then 5 mg from then until now.

From reading that link it helps me understand testing times, I just feel so upset that both clinics stated 6 months! And insisted i was wrong and that I needed to come back in May, so it left me very anxious thinking I wasn't done testing yet. I considered seeing a infectious disease doctor so that I could talk this over with him but I wasn't sure if it'd be both a waste of time and money.

So there is no need at all for me to test again being that my only last test was Feb 18? Thank you again.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  I don't know what you mean by being "ahead of time for the long post" -- but your question is straightforward and I'm happy to answer.  I'm happy to confirm the reassuring replies you have had on the community forum.

Starting with the opening statement:  with an exposure December 1 and a negative HIV test about 10 weeks later, it has already been proved you don't have HIV.  It doesn't matter how high or low the risk was, or what symptoms you had, or anything else.  No further testing is needed.  Here is the link to a thread that discusses in detail why I am so confident about it.  As you will see, it explains why routine advice is for testing at 3 months even though the results are reliable a lot earlier than that.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/what-is-the-window-period-for-hiv/show/1704700

Those comments answer question 1 and pretty much question 2 as well.  You have found a clinic where they have a hyper-conservative stance.  It is never necessary to test beyond 3 months -- and 5 versus 6 months is therefore irrelevant.  And by the way, it is correct that your prednisone therapy makes no difference (as discussed on the community forum).  Potent immunosuppressive drugs in theory might delay things, but 5 mg is a very low dose that has no such effect.

Take a look at the other thread and then let me know if there is still something you don't understand.  In the meantime, the news is good and all is well!

Regards--  HHH, MD