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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
2nd Window Period and Overall Actual Risk
by hypercondria, Jun 15, 2007 12:00AM
I might of had exposure 21 Months ago now. The exposure was in Indonesia and it involved some hand to genital contact (Sorry to sound crude but fingering of a female to be exact, and there may have been some cuts around the cuticles but i cant be sure), She performed oral sex on me and then followed by protected sex.
I had the P24 Antigen + Antibody test approximately 4-6 weeks after this event which came back negative. But in recent months I have been feeling anxiety and just wanted confirmation of this test result... Was it to early to take it? At the time the doctor didn't recommend any follow up tests but I am now a little paranoid.
1: Am I at risk from Oral Sex?
2: I noticed that I had some tearing around my cuticles which could have been open but not entirely sure... if this was the case would the fingering put me at risk?
I have read that the above mentioned test could be quite deceiving since there is a window period where the Antigens Disappear but it is still too early for the detectable antibodies to appear which would then produce a negative result which obviously could be wrong since it could have been in the window period i just mentioned.
Does this sound accurate at all to you or am I first of all just being paranoid about the exposure to start with and secondly about the method of testing.
So as i took take this test at say between 30-45 days could I be confident in its result?
I had the P24 Antigen + Antibody test approximately 4-6 weeks after this event which came back negative. But in recent months I have been feeling anxiety and just wanted confirmation of this test result... Was it to early to take it? At the time the doctor didn't recommend any follow up tests but I am now a little paranoid.
1: Am I at risk from Oral Sex?
2: I noticed that I had some tearing around my cuticles which could have been open but not entirely sure... if this was the case would the fingering put me at risk?
I have read that the above mentioned test could be quite deceiving since there is a window period where the Antigens Disappear but it is still too early for the detectable antibodies to appear which would then produce a negative result which obviously could be wrong since it could have been in the window period i just mentioned.
Does this sound accurate at all to you or am I first of all just being paranoid about the exposure to start with and secondly about the method of testing.
So as i took take this test at say between 30-45 days could I be confident in its result?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 15, 2007 12:00AM
, Jun 15, 2007 12:00AM
It is impossible to have HIV and have a negative P24 and antibody test a month after the event. And receiving fellatio is zero risk, or close to it. Tearing around your cuiticles is irrelevant; hand-genital contact never transmits HIV. I don't understand your scenario about 'antigen disappearing' and test results. Your test results were 100% reliable, period.
So your fears are not realistic. But if you want further reassurance, it's fine with me if you have another test.
No 'yes but' or 'what if' follow-up questions, please. I will have no further replies.
HHH, MD
So your fears are not realistic. But if you want further reassurance, it's fine with me if you have another test.
No 'yes but' or 'what if' follow-up questions, please. I will have no further replies.
HHH, MD
Member Comments (2)
by knarf52, Jun 17, 2007 12:00AM
To: Doctor H Please
Is it true for everyone what you said here or am I reading your comment wrong? You say that it would be impossible for a person to have HIV if they had a P24 and Antibody test at 4 or 5 weeks? Is that true for any length of time post symptoms? If this is true why do people have to wait three months? I had a negative P24 and Antibody test at 40 days post sex - 25 days post symptom onset.
