Unprotected sex with positive partner

[anyoneasap]

I am freaking out and glad i just found this website so that i can get an opinion from an expert. I had unprotected vaginal sex with i female (i am a 29 year old male) who i found out some days after the event that she is indeed positive. Since then i have taken the following tests:

2 weeks post exposure - Hiv 1 - 2 duo test (index value 0.10)
3 months post exposure - Hiv 1 - 2 duo test (index value 0.16)
4 months post exposure - Hiv 1- 2 duo test in two different labs (index value 0.13 first lab, index value 0.12 second lab)

All of the test i took where duo (antigen and antibody)

It is important to mention i have had all symptoms which i have read can be ars. Head ache, sore throat, white tongue, fever for 3 days of 39.2 celcius.

I have the following questions:

1. Can i be 100% sure i do NOT have HIV?
2. Why is index value increasing over time? does it mean i am forming antibodys to hiv as time goes on?
3. Since i have confirmed my partner was infected, do i have to take a 6 month test? or is it my last test at 4 month conclusive?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to eht fourm.

You definitely did not catch HIV and do not need further testing. Your negative duo test at 2 weeks was 80% reassurance and the one at 2 months proved it; the 4 month test was unnecessary.  (The duo test is virtuyally 100% proof against a new infection at 4 weeks.)  Your test results prove that something other than HIV is the cause of your symptoms.

To your direct questions:

1) Yes, 100%.

2) Below the cut-off for a positive, test, varying index values below the cut-off value are meaningless.  Even if you took the very same blood specimen and tested it 10 times, there would be 10 different numerical values.  Every one is equally negative.  It has to do with the biochemistry of the test, nothing to do with "a little bit" of HIV antibody.

3) You need no more testing.  You could have stopped at 3 months (or even at 1 month, if you had been tested at that time).

Continue to work with your doctor about your symptoms if they continue.  But you should definitely stop worrying about HIV.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Every person with HIV infection of 4 months duration has detectable antibody or p24 antigen.  If neither test is positive, it is 100% incontrovertable evidence s/he does not have HIV.  There are no exceptions.  It's really not a difficult concept and I disgree that "many people" have doubt about this -- except among persons who are abnormally anxious or having trouble accepting the truth of their test results.  

And you obviously are having trouble accepting the reality that you did not catch HIV and that something else is causing your symptoms.  If you find yourself continuing to obsess about this, it suggests a need for professional mental health counseling, which I suggest out of compassion.  It is not normal to be so resistant to such overwhelming evidence and reasoned reassurance.  However, this forum is not an appropriate substitute for that sort of counseling, so that will have to end this thread.

[anyoneasap]

Doctor i have one final question which i need your help answering. Please let me know if i need to pay another 20 for you to answer it, although i would really apreciate your colaboration since its a really quick question.

If i hadnt seroconverted in this four moths, would i still have the p24 antigen? So the test would have detected it? Is p24 antigen in the blood and becomes undetectable only when antibodys star forming? If antibodies dont form for any reason p24 stays untill they do. Thank you in advanced. I have read many people have the same doubt about this.

[stifler266]

Not trying to intrude here but if your read through helpme21's posts you find that they point out they tested at 6 weeks and never tested again after that. As Dr. HHH points out some experts still agree that 3 months is conclusive so helpme21 never really had a test at conclusive time. Also that happened back in 2007 testing has only gotten better and more sensitive since then. Good luck

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Please ignore individual stories about highly unusual events.  People sometimes get hit by lightning or meteorites, but that doesn't mean anybody else has a higher risk it will happen to him or her.  Same for unusual HIV test results.  Also, anyone who whose positive test took 8 weeks is talking about an antibody-only test.  With a duo test all results at 4 weeks or later are totally reliable.

That will be all for this thread.  Please try to talk yourself through any additional anxiety driven hair-splitting concerns that comes to mind and accept the reassurance you have had.

[anyoneasap]

After reading through the forum i found 2 cases of people who tested positive after an 8 week negative. They go by the name of helpme21 and mackai. I was wondering if in the last few years have seen any case of people testing positive after 4 months. My las test was a duo 4 month post exposure and it was negative. Reading about this two cases have really freaked me out.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

It detects all subtypes of HIV that exist in almost all countries. Your results are definitive.  Please accept the reassurance and move on.  Truly, no worries here.

[anyoneasap]

Thank you very much doctor i feel very good after hearing your expert opinion. I have one other doubt. The test ive had taken (duo test) detect all subtypes of hiv? Or is it necesary to take other more specific tests?