Aa
Seeking Reassurance
Situation: Unprotected intercourse in NYC with CSW/escort type.
Negative test for all STD's and HIV one week after.
Negative HIV test (Assume antibody only) at 9 weeks
Negative HIV test (3rd gen ELISA) 16 weeks post. (syphillis, Hep A-C all neg here too)
Caught a very nasty GI tract infection at around week 8-9 that has improved but lingered. Have taken cipro (small dose) xifanax and bactrim.
Do I need more testing for HIV?
Could the meds (started taking around week 13) interfere with tests?
Thanks!
Negative test for all STD's and HIV one week after.
Negative HIV test (Assume antibody only) at 9 weeks
Negative HIV test (3rd gen ELISA) 16 weeks post. (syphillis, Hep A-C all neg here too)
Caught a very nasty GI tract infection at around week 8-9 that has improved but lingered. Have taken cipro (small dose) xifanax and bactrim.
Do I need more testing for HIV?
Could the meds (started taking around week 13) interfere with tests?
Thanks!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
The HIV blood tests are among the most accurate diagnostic tests that exist, for any medical condition. All available tests are officially valid any time more than 3 months after the last possible exposure -- and actually valid by 6-8 weeks. And there are few if any medical conditions that interfere with them; certainly antibiotics do not. Therefore, your test results overrule all other considierations: no matter how high the risk (your sexual exposure in NYC actually was pretty low risk) and no matter how typical the symptoms (yours were not at all typical), your results prove for sure you didn't catch HIV.
In case you are interested in a more detailed discussion about HIV test reliability, here is the link to another thread -- which in turn contains another link:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/RNA-and-oraquick-swab-test-/show/1891685
So all is well; there is no need for additional HIV testing.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
The HIV blood tests are among the most accurate diagnostic tests that exist, for any medical condition. All available tests are officially valid any time more than 3 months after the last possible exposure -- and actually valid by 6-8 weeks. And there are few if any medical conditions that interfere with them; certainly antibiotics do not. Therefore, your test results overrule all other considierations: no matter how high the risk (your sexual exposure in NYC actually was pretty low risk) and no matter how typical the symptoms (yours were not at all typical), your results prove for sure you didn't catch HIV.
In case you are interested in a more detailed discussion about HIV test reliability, here is the link to another thread -- which in turn contains another link:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/RNA-and-oraquick-swab-test-/show/1891685
So all is well; there is no need for additional HIV testing.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As I said above, "HIV test results overrule all other considerations: ...no matter how typical the symptoms...your results prove for sure you didn't catch HIV."
Was your oral yeast infection (thrush) diagnosed professionally? Self-diagnosis is very unreliable; white coated tongue, for example, isn't the same as thrush. But even if you have a confirmed oral yeast infection, it is not a cause for concern about HIV. Treatment with multiple broad spectrum antibiotics, exactly the sort you had, is one of the most common triggers of yeast infections. And even without antibiotics, it is something of an urban myth that thrush suggests HIV. It's often a sign of advanced immune deficiency, i.e. overt AIDS, but not often of recently acquired HIV. Anyway, even without antibiotics or other apparent triggers, oral yeast occurs pretty frequently in entirely healthy persons; I had it myself once.
I'm confident you will hear much the same from your ID consultant. You really shouldn't be at all worried about HIV.
Was your oral yeast infection (thrush) diagnosed professionally? Self-diagnosis is very unreliable; white coated tongue, for example, isn't the same as thrush. But even if you have a confirmed oral yeast infection, it is not a cause for concern about HIV. Treatment with multiple broad spectrum antibiotics, exactly the sort you had, is one of the most common triggers of yeast infections. And even without antibiotics, it is something of an urban myth that thrush suggests HIV. It's often a sign of advanced immune deficiency, i.e. overt AIDS, but not often of recently acquired HIV. Anyway, even without antibiotics or other apparent triggers, oral yeast occurs pretty frequently in entirely healthy persons; I had it myself once.
I'm confident you will hear much the same from your ID consultant. You really shouldn't be at all worried about HIV.
Doc,
It looks like I may have developed thrush (now at month 6). Can I still rely on my 9 and 16 week negative antibody results? I see an ID specialist on Wednesday. Should I be concerned about my previous results?
Thanks
It looks like I may have developed thrush (now at month 6). Can I still rely on my 9 and 16 week negative antibody results? I see an ID specialist on Wednesday. Should I be concerned about my previous results?
Thanks
Thanks for the prompt response. Doctors have asked if I'm immunocompromised, as an explanation for the duration of my GI tract infection. You hear that a couple times and begin to wonder. Sadly, accurate information about HIV / testing can be difficult to obtain. Thanks again for your time and consideration.
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
