Window change with Rx?

[ConclusiveQ]

Dr HHH or any other qualified members, I'm a male who had unprotected interourse with promiscuos female. at 85 days my test performed is listed as "HIV 1/2 EIA AB screen" which was through quest diagnostics and it reads non-reactive. I've been using hydrocortisone 1% for years on face as a topical treatment and during 85 day window have also taken percocet, vicodin, and toradol. I would say the use of these 3 were about once a week maximum. never percocet and vicodin at same time. ive also been given an ointment consisting of desonide-nizoral which i've used for same treatment as hydrocortisone cream. did any of these Rx's affect my EIA test? is 85 days proper window? thank you

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

With modern HIV tests, it is extremely rare -- if it occurs at all -- for it to take more than 6-8 weeks (up to 56 days) for the test to become positive.  Your negative result at 85 days proves you were not infected, regardless of the nature of the exposure or whatever medicines you were taking.  Trust the result.  No further testing is necessary.l

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the HIV forum.

As we have said many times, no medications change the reliability of HIV test results. It is possible potent chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs might do it -- in the regimens and doses used for life-threatening cancer -- but even those possiblities are theoretical, with no proved cases of it actually ever happening (as far as I know).  The miniscule amount of hydrocortisone you used cannot possibly make a difference --- indeed, using 1% hydrocortisone on the skin would not make a dent in the amount of natural hydrocorisone continually circulating in your blood.  The other drugs you mention also have no effect.  Your negative test result is reliable.

Regards--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your worries are groundless.  "Aren't there heterosexual men who've tested negative at 6-8 weeks but then postitive at the 3 month - 6 month mark...?  Few or none.

You came here for reassurance, which I gave.  Please accept it and stop searching the web for information that will only alarm you.  Aside from professional run sites (and especially professionally moderated ones, like this one), that's all you're likely to find.

That's all for this thread.  And please don't start a new one with the same questions.  It would be deleted without reply.

[ConclusiveQ]

Dr HHH. Reading more about the disease I grow increasingly worried. More background: Roughly 2 weeks ago I had 2 small bumps (delcared cysts by my Derm) removed from the base of my penis and top of my scrotum. The bumps appeared there after my exposure. Maybe 1-2 months after. I also had and still currently have several white pimple looking pinpoint spots on the underside of my shaft. More towards the base but also in the middle. Very pimple like but very small and slightly raised from the skin. On the left sife of my shaft there seems to be a small red patch. No more than half an inch with 2 small raised bumps. The bumps are pinkish as is the red patch (molluscum?). I also have what appears to be moluscum on my right middle finger above the top knuckle. Its a single round flesh colored/clear bump with a crater type center. Bigger than the pinkish bumps which reside in the red area on my penis but similar looking. The bump on finger is small but easily visible and hard. Grouping all those things together with the fact the female is an exotic dancer (unaware at time of exposure) I can't help but to completely rack my brain if I fall into the "known exposures test at 6months" since she classifies a higher risk person than the avg woman. I also have had sebhoria dermatitis for years but it hasn't been responding as well to hydrocortisone cream as it has in the past. The bottom of my feet have began to itch in specific places. Nothing appears on the skin yet but I worry. After reading extensively in this forum I see that a lot, if not all, of these things can be symptoms of infection. I also noticed that you referance likelyhoods of infection and and %s as to which people mightve been exposed to judge when they should test. This has me worried because I can't help to struggle with the idea that what if I fall into the small %. Aren't there heterosexual men who've tested negative at 6-8 weeks but then postitive at the 3 month - 6 month mark and wondered "why me?". If I didn't have symptoms I probably wouldn't be as worried but all the information available is alarming. I eagerly await your reply and Happy New Year

[ConclusiveQ]

Thank you

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

All labs use modern HIV tests these days and you had the latest kind of test ("HIV 1/2 EIA") and your test results is 100% reliable regardless of your exposure.  Stop trying to read between the lines of my reply.  Accept your test results, drop this event from your mind, and move on.  End of story, and end of this thread.

[ConclusiveQ]

Qs maybe confusing

I'll Clarify

-To add to the 1st Q: I was told it was JUST the antibody test. Not any other

-clarify 2nd Q: Did you mean that even if I had been exposed my antibody test results at the 85 day mark should be trusted?

hope this clears the confusion

[ConclusiveQ]

My apologies for any redundancy but two of your comments have been lingering in my mind.

comment 1: "With modern HIV tests, it is extremely rare -- if it occurs at all -- for it to take more than 6-8 weeks (up to 56 days) for the test to become positive."

Q. is the HIV EIA test I mentioned considered modern? and in your pro-opinion is Quest a reliable labratory

comment 2: "Your negative result at 85 days proves you were not infected, regardless of the nature of the exposure"

Q. Regardless of the nature of my exposure? Meaning if I were to have been exposed to HIV it would have read +?

Thanks and once more my apologies

[ConclusiveQ]

Thank you and God bless

[ConclusiveQ]

Thank you for your timely response. When you say reliable do you mean the time passed between contact and testing meets the criteria for a conclusive test or is further testing needed? PCR, EIA, etc?