Concerned

I am very concerned about hiv since i was randomly involved about 7 weeks ago and experienced condom breakage.I did a duo test at 28 days and tested negative.Mr Dr says i dont need to test again but im worried because i donate blood each year in November when the Red Cross comes to compass.

I also read a disturbing article in the South African Journal Of  Medicine                  http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?pid=S0256-95742009000700014&script=sci_arttext
about a man infecting his child with hiv while his wife was negative.I am now confused about hiv transmission.

Should i stop donating blood? can i still be infected

[Rob73!]

Hi there,

You have had a test using a 4th generation DUO test. This is now considered (at least) in the UK to be the best available testing methodology available and now used routinely by the NHS in the UK.

For the purpose of this forum, the testing guideline are for a conclusive result the HIV test has to be taken at a period of three months or greater since the last possible exposure.

Hope this helps.

[dmn777]

Its the same practice here in Ireland, your doctor was right.

[Teak]

3 months post exposure is when you can obtain a conclusive negative test result.

[Guipsuid]

1)I have just come from a testing centre at Rosebank Mall's Clicks store at 9 weeks post exposure and have been told to come back in 6 months and 12 months.I argued about a 3 month window but was told very politely that that has FAILED to work here in South Africa and the 6- 12 months is standard,ofcourse im mortified but there is a REASON why there is so much controversy over window periods.There is no definate consistancy.And thats the truth.I have read that there are certain standards that even the FDA had to revoke in retrospect.

2) I have recieved no feedback on the case of Father to child transmition that i enquired about in my last posting.Are we now resistant to what may be happening? and for whose good?

3) I read in the guidlines that Prostitutes protect themselves using condoms.In south Africa, culturally there is a myth that if you are positive and you sleep with a virgin you will become negative.If you leave your condom with semen in it -it can be a usefull ingredient for whitch craft against you.Studies here reviel that some prostitutes go to the extent of contaminating the inside of condoms with sexual fluids from other customers to take more down with them.

I think its important to have a universal understanding of the implications of hiv ,culture etc on the nature of the pandemic..it seems to work differently in the industrialised north.

im concerned that we might turn a blind eye to things we may regret in future...