negative test at 8th week and Swollen Lymp nodes after 12 days of test

[miamidude123]

Hi Doctor,

I tested negative with clearview (finger prick) test at 8 weeks and 3 days after exposure.  It is about two weeks to test, from 12 days from test

a-I am noticing swollen Lymph nodes on my neck (start of jaw) about 1 cm in diameter. It is only on left side of neck. and only one I notices. This is painless.

b-  I feel pain in my right knee and back of head.

c- Feel little tired which goes away if I take coffee or something.

d- I do not have any other symptoms.

1- Do you think these are Ars symptoms, I know it is late for my original exposure. But I am worried If I have got any thing from testing center. The timing of this swollen lymph nodes making me very nervous. I have posted my experience with testing earlier on this site. The consular was  not trained for finger prick test, so she might had make any mistake and infected me.

2- Do you think I should retest for this testing exposure?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Just disregard the oral fluids test.  Your opening comment is that you tested negative with Clearview at 8 weeks.  That result is definitive, regardless of Oraquick reliability.  So for sure you don't have HIV. Believe it, accept it, and move on with your life.

Don't post anything else.  If you do, the entire thread will be deleted.

[miamidude123]

Hi Dr HHH, I saw many posts where you have mentioned that Oraquick home test is very reliable at 6 week and conclusive at 8 week. I am suffering extreme depression and having very difficult time effecting my work and family. Also in Dr Hook's recent opinion. it is conclusive in 9 weeks. I am just confused with so much difference in opinion from post to post. I do not want to test at testing center again and get into another "if/then" situation.

In following post it seems it is reliable at 8 week?
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/Should-I-test/show/1861564

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, not until 3 months.  The oral fluids test is the only one that takes that long, and therefore is never the best test when seeking assurance after any paricular sexual exposure.  Inside 3 months, a 3rd or 4th generation test is needed; these are valid at 6 weeks and 4 weeks, respectively.  4th generation rapid blood tests recently came on the market and are very good.

That's definitely the end of this thread.  

[miamidude123]

Hi Dr,

Will Oraquick Mouth Swab (in home test) be considered conclusive at 60 days (8 weeks plus 4 days)?

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

It is likely that nobody in the world ever acquired HIV through the testing process, except maybe a few times (mostly in developing countries) back in the days when needles sometimes were re-used without proper sterilization.  The specific circumstances you describe are nonsensical -- there is no way this was a risk for catching HIV.

That will end this thread.  Please don't ask any more "yes but", "what if" or similar questions about exceptions to the usual risks.  There is nothing you can think of that would change my opinion or advice.

[miamidude123]

Hi Dr.

Thanks for your response. I must say that after I found this site, I stopped going to any other site. I believed what Dr. Hook told me and I am not worried about my previous exposure any more and after today reassurance I will move on


I am just concern that if It is possible to get infected from testing. I saw that consoler have used the new packet for test. But I have not noticed if she used the new cloth swab to wipe out my finger.

Question. If clothing swab have WET blood on it and it was pressed hard on my pricked finger (as I was bleeding a lot from prick) and she pressed  swab hard on my finger to stop bleeding. Will it cause HIV transmission and I asked ARS Symptoms question regarding this testing exposure. Do you recommend further test for this "TEST" exposure?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'm sorry to see you remain irrationally fearful of HIV despite the reasoned, science-based reassuraince you had from Dr. Hook in your other thread.  That thread was terminated and your last few comments deleted becuase you were unwilling or unable to understand or believe what you were being told.  That was not an invitation to start a new thread.  I will briefly answer these additional quesitons --  even though the answers are obvious in the other discussion -- but there will be no follow-up comments or discussion.

Your "exposure"  -- frottage without sexual penetration -- wasn't an exposure at all.  You could not have caught HIV.

Most important, the HIV test ALWAYS overrule symptoms and exposure history.  No matter how high risk an exposure (your frottage event was zero risk anyway) and no matter how typical the symptoms seem to be for ARS, the test result rules as long as testing is done sufficiently long after exposure -- and 8 weeks is sufficient.  Most people who believe their lymph nodes are enlarged are wrong -- this isn't something you can accurately judge by yourself, only with professional examination.

In other words, the answer is no to both your questions.  But if you need the final assurance of another negative test at the official interval of 12 weeks, feel free to do it.  Based on all you have said, you can be sure it will remain negative.  In the meantime, ignore any and all symptoms you have now or may have in the future.  They are not due to HIV.

MedHelp allows no more than 2 questions every 6 months on the professionally moderated forums (see Terms and Conditions).  The purpose is to prevent domination of the forums by duplicate, anxiety driven questions like yours.  Any new ones before next November will be deleted without reply, and wihtout refund of the posting fee.

HHH, MD