Aa
Really worried
I had unprotected vaginal sex with a prostitute 6.5 weeks ago. She was on the street and in a really bad area for drugs, so thinking about it now she's probably an intravenous drug user and has HIV.
I took a test at 3.5 weeks where they tested for 3 different things in my blood (this was the explanation given to me by the nurse). One of those three things came back positive (2 negative), and they ran a PCR test on the sample, which came back negative.
They told me I needed to go back for further testing, which I did at 6 weeks post-exposure, which was only a couple of days ago. They did a HIV rapid test which came back negative, and took a sample to send off to their lab too for another test.
The nurse said they'd try and rush it through and have it back within the day for results. It's now been two days and I haven't heard anything. I'm thinking it must mean the sample has come back positive and they need another couple of days to perform the comfirmatory test which is why I haven't heard anything. :(
The nurse said at 6 weeks the rapid test is fairly accurate and the PCR test at 3.5 weeks means there's probably nothing to worry about, but I'm concerned about the indeterminate first test where one out of three things came back positive and still worry that was the start of me seroconverting. And now the delay has got me really panicking again. :(
If I survive this I swear to God I'm never going near another prostitute again. It's not worth all the stress and chance of catching a deadly disease. :(
I took a test at 3.5 weeks where they tested for 3 different things in my blood (this was the explanation given to me by the nurse). One of those three things came back positive (2 negative), and they ran a PCR test on the sample, which came back negative.
They told me I needed to go back for further testing, which I did at 6 weeks post-exposure, which was only a couple of days ago. They did a HIV rapid test which came back negative, and took a sample to send off to their lab too for another test.
The nurse said they'd try and rush it through and have it back within the day for results. It's now been two days and I haven't heard anything. I'm thinking it must mean the sample has come back positive and they need another couple of days to perform the comfirmatory test which is why I haven't heard anything. :(
The nurse said at 6 weeks the rapid test is fairly accurate and the PCR test at 3.5 weeks means there's probably nothing to worry about, but I'm concerned about the indeterminate first test where one out of three things came back positive and still worry that was the start of me seroconverting. And now the delay has got me really panicking again. :(
If I survive this I swear to God I'm never going near another prostitute again. It's not worth all the stress and chance of catching a deadly disease. :(
Best of luck buddy.
Went in for a rapid test today, 14 weeks post-exposure. Thank God, the result was negative after all. The doctor said he didn't know what was causing the 2 reactive 'bands' (his words) on the other test, but it definitely wasn't HIV unless I had been exposed since the incident I was describing (I haven't, had no sex, oral, or even kissing for 3 months). He said it only confirmed what he thought anyway based on the negative viral load test and earlier 6 week rapid test (they also ran a HIV DUO antigen/antibody test at 6 weeks in the labs too he told me, which came back negative for both antigens and antibodies), but I was so relieved.
The fact one 'band' on the first test was reactive at 3.5 weeks, and then 2 'bands' were reactive at 6 weeks...well, I'm sure you can all understand what I thought that was leading towards (more bands= seroconverting) and why I was frightened out of my mind. Thankfully the doctor showed me all the other tests performed at the 6 week point (antigen/antibody test and viral load test), and said that the negative result at 14 weeks was 100% reliable (which I knew already from reading this forum, but nice to hear it from someone in real life too).
Going to move on with my life now. Never sleeping with any more prostitutes (I realise what caused the majority of the anxiety here was my own stupid decision not to use protection, but I just think the whole 'having sex with a girl who has loads of partners each week' is just too risky, even when using a condom. I know the statistics show that acquiring HIV from female sex workers is a very low risk, but believe me, 'statistics' don't seem to mean too much when you're faced with 2 inconclusive results early in the window period, with the second result showing increased reactivity).
Time to find a nice sweet girl, settle down into a monagomous relationship, and enjoy life. Peace to all, and good luck to anyone anxiously awaiting results.
The fact one 'band' on the first test was reactive at 3.5 weeks, and then 2 'bands' were reactive at 6 weeks...well, I'm sure you can all understand what I thought that was leading towards (more bands= seroconverting) and why I was frightened out of my mind. Thankfully the doctor showed me all the other tests performed at the 6 week point (antigen/antibody test and viral load test), and said that the negative result at 14 weeks was 100% reliable (which I knew already from reading this forum, but nice to hear it from someone in real life too).
Going to move on with my life now. Never sleeping with any more prostitutes (I realise what caused the majority of the anxiety here was my own stupid decision not to use protection, but I just think the whole 'having sex with a girl who has loads of partners each week' is just too risky, even when using a condom. I know the statistics show that acquiring HIV from female sex workers is a very low risk, but believe me, 'statistics' don't seem to mean too much when you're faced with 2 inconclusive results early in the window period, with the second result showing increased reactivity).
Time to find a nice sweet girl, settle down into a monagomous relationship, and enjoy life. Peace to all, and good luck to anyone anxiously awaiting results.
Well, I got the test results back today. More inconclusive stuff. :(
The first test came back 'weakly reactive' on 2 out of the 3 things they assessed in the past (with one non reactive result). They then ran a viral load test on the sample, which came back negative/undetectable.
The doctor said based on 2 PCR tests (3.5 weeks and 6 weeks) and the negative rapid test, he was 'almost certain' I was HIV negative, but still said I should come back at the 3 month mark for further testing. :( Just like the nurse he seemed to think there was likely nothing to worry about but then again it's easy for him to say. :(
The fact that the test has gone from 1 thing been weakly reactive to two things been weakly reactive has got me really concerned, but then I look online about when PCR tests should be accurate and all say at 4 weeks+ they deliver accurate results, and two of those have returned negative.
I guess there is nothing to do now until another month has passed and I can go for the three month test, but I'm going to be worried every day now.
The first test came back 'weakly reactive' on 2 out of the 3 things they assessed in the past (with one non reactive result). They then ran a viral load test on the sample, which came back negative/undetectable.
The doctor said based on 2 PCR tests (3.5 weeks and 6 weeks) and the negative rapid test, he was 'almost certain' I was HIV negative, but still said I should come back at the 3 month mark for further testing. :( Just like the nurse he seemed to think there was likely nothing to worry about but then again it's easy for him to say. :(
The fact that the test has gone from 1 thing been weakly reactive to two things been weakly reactive has got me really concerned, but then I look online about when PCR tests should be accurate and all say at 4 weeks+ they deliver accurate results, and two of those have returned negative.
I guess there is nothing to do now until another month has passed and I can go for the three month test, but I'm going to be worried every day now.
With the combination of the negative PCR and rapid test I would say that the chances of you having HIV at this point are effectively zero.
I don't know either, but I should get my other results back soon so can ask her. She seemed to think there was nothing to worry about as they did the PCR test on the sample (the sample that returned the positive result) which was negative, and then the rapid test at 6 weeks she said was highly accurate.
But I'm still going scared over that one positive/indeterminate result, or whatever it was. :(
But I'm still going scared over that one positive/indeterminate result, or whatever it was. :(
It sounds like whatever this mystery test was it was a false positive, but I can't really comment further until you clarify with her what exactly was tested.
She said to me the first test looked for 3 specific types of stuff in the blood that would signal HIV. Basically, if all 3 things were/are present, the test is taken as a positive test for HIV (and is then confirmed with western blot).
One thing was present, two weren't. The nurse said that it was nothing to worry about and that the one positive portion of the test could have been to do with an unrelated infection. She also said sometimes this just happens with people, but with 1/3 coming back positive she thought it best to run a PCR test on the sample, which was negative (the first test didn't return 'positive', it was indeterminate because of the one positive reaction compared to 2 negative).
She said 2 tests returning a false-negative at 6 weeks would be pretty unlikely, but I still worry about the window period and seroconverting because of that one positive part of the first test. :(
One thing was present, two weren't. The nurse said that it was nothing to worry about and that the one positive portion of the test could have been to do with an unrelated infection. She also said sometimes this just happens with people, but with 1/3 coming back positive she thought it best to run a PCR test on the sample, which was negative (the first test didn't return 'positive', it was indeterminate because of the one positive reaction compared to 2 negative).
She said 2 tests returning a false-negative at 6 weeks would be pretty unlikely, but I still worry about the window period and seroconverting because of that one positive part of the first test. :(
With the combination of your negative PCR and rapid test your nurse is correct. However you should get clarification with her on what test came back positive.
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Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
