HIV testing and Hepatitis indicator, totally confused.

I have some simple questions because my anxiety is getting up and down.

Though I didn't had any high-risk exposure with several girls I decided to do a full blood test. The doctor explained its a HIV and P24 test,
he didn't know much more about it either. I am in China, I guess they use 3rd or 4th generation ELISA.

As I got my results back, HIV was negative (0.05) as expected, yet one Hepatitis B indicator was high/positive (HbcAb). The doctor explained, that I must had
an unprotected encounter with a Hepatitis B infected person, but my immune system got rid off the virus itself.

Basically, I am in the dark now - I always did protected sex (condoms), yet unprotected oral. It is stated, that Hepatitis B is very unlikely to contract
by safe-sex, yet I got it. That rises now again my fear for HIV.

1) Given the fact that my immune system is "pretty good", can I trust a test almost 45 days post "low-risk-exposure" HIV test that searches also for the P24 antigen?
2) As I understand, Hepatitis B is easier to "get"via unprotected oral, than HIV - is this correct?

As for the HIV test, I did it 30 days after my last protected vaginal intercourse, and respectivly 45 days after my last unprotected oral sex (booth ways).

Can I finally relax? The Hepatitis thing really got me worked again now.

PS: I want to thank everyone on this forum for providing so many answers to concerned people like me.

[Apollo1971]

Well here is a little information on Hep B.

Hepatitis B is very infectious and can be spread easily from someone who is infectious. Unprotected oral sex, penetrative sex and rimming can spread Hepatitis B infection. Not everyone who has had Hepatitis B is infectious. Most become immune and non-infectious.

So your oral sex " could " be the cause, but it may not.

What i can say for sure is that condoms are 100% against HIV, and thats not a debating point, its a simple fact. AS for oral sex, their are no reported cases of HIV transmission in 30 years, so are not going to be the first and to prove that, your test results.

To conclude, i can see why you maybe concerned, but you could have had hepb for years tbh, but you dont have HIV, thats for sure buds.

[paulbred]

Thanks Apollo,

I see that you are very active on this forum and I really want to thank you, not only answering my question, but also anybody else's questions.

I guess the cause could be only oral sex (for the hep.b.), since everything else was always protected and I didn't had any other risk activity. But more important, I got rid of it even without a vaccine for what I am very happy.

As for the HIV, I am much more relaxed after my first test, because I know that people in China take HIV tests very seriously.

I have one further question if you don't mind:

Since my work here is kind of dependent on a yearly "passed" health check, the HIV fear is much bigger. Would you advise me to just move on after this test and "zero/low-risk exposure" (oral), or should I repeat it in 2 months to be absolutely certain? As far as I know either the P24 or the antigen should "light up" if there was something, even after 4-5 weeks. The procedure here in China is ELISA (3rd or 4th) and if positive they confirm with WB. The P24 check is part of the ELISA, right?

One other thing I am concerned about is that the Hep B infection could affect the HIV test result - I read about a case where a simultaneous hiv/hep.C infection created a window of 9 months before the hiv-infection was recognized (documented case). Do  have to be concerned about that, in your personal opinion.
  
Last but not least: Can I directly donate to you, I mean just to rebalance the karma :D :D

Greetings

[Apollo1971]

Hiya and thank you for the nice comments,

Ok, well even if you had a risk, hepb would not effect the test results. Its quiet a commin question and the hiv experts dismiss this as any concern.

As for your concern, honestly, i would not even give it any concern at all. Take in mind all they have done is kiss your penis instead of your lips, and saliva does not have any active hiv antibodys, hence why  kissing is safe and why oral is not any risk paul.

I hope that helps.

[paulbred]

I am actually more concerned about the oral sex I did on those girls. I have a lot of serious gum problems and problems with my teeth, so I guess thats how some hep.b. got into my blood-stream. That's the only thing that scares me, even though you already said that hep.b is a lot more infectious.

Actually after my last test there is just one "candidate" in a 10 week period, so I try to be relaxed.

PS: You didn't answer the question about donations. Do you accept any?

[Apollo1971]

Paul you really dont need to worry about that. You would need to have a shower in those fluids to have any chance because the mouth has many emzymes and protiens that make the virus inactive. Then you would need an open socket from tooth being removed straight before which leave a direct route for infection.

To back this up, your 10 week negative, it shows you dont have hiv buds.

Thats a nice offer buds, but i think their are far more worthy than myself :-)

[paulbred]

Thanks Apollo,

I really appreciate your patience and moral/scientific support.
I will have a mandatory screening in a few months and I will keep updating the thread when something new comes up. Maybe it will relax other people going trough such moments.

Thanks again.

[Apollo1971]

Some post on the expert forum about oral sex.

I'm sorry that you continue to worry about this exposure.  I have reviewed your nearly 30 other exchanges on of HIV Prevention Community sites and agree with all that has been said before.  Your encounter was NO RISK for HIV- no one has EVER gotten HIV from receipt of oral sex and your testing CONCLUSIVELY PROVES that you did not get HIV.  Further testing is a waste of time and money.  My sincere advice is that you need to seek medical help in addressing your unwarranted continuing anxiety rather than pursue further testing.  EWH





H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.

Jan 08, 2013
..


Welcome to the forum.  Thanks for your question.

This may be one of those in which the question itself contains most or all information required for an accurate response.  As a general rule, an oral sex exposure never warrants HIV testing.  The risk of HIV transmission by oral sex is extremely low, maybe truly zero for most exposures.

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