Delayed seroconversion?

I'm worried again (as it seems many on this board are).

Facts:
High risk exposure
Negative ELISA and RNA PCR @ 11wks post incident
Sky high EBV titers for probable reactivation also @ 11wks
ARS symptoms but have returned within the last week with fever and ARS like rash, also feeling fatigued with muscle aches.

I'm freaking out that EBV infection/reactivation may have suppressed my immune system such that I am a late seroconverter.  Is this possible?  Should I get retested?

[Teak]

No you don't need to retest and no it's not ARS coming back.

[shiblee101]

Just curious,  Red Fish and Mik67, any comments as you guys appear to be in the same boat as me.

[Red Fish 88]

I got my test results back today. Neg. for HIV.  This is 11 months after my exposure.  As mentioned, I have had thrush ever since my exposure, so just because you have thrush it doesen't mean you have hiv. So hang in there.  

[shiblee101]

So do you recommend retesting?  Isn't negative Elisa and RNA PCR @ 11wks sufficient?

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

the website thebody, has  percentage chart on symptoms of ARS. It has some interesting facts.  90+ % of those with ARS suffer from fever, 70% develop a rash....  12% develop thrush.   So bad news for the op, good news for the Thrush post.

Should the OP re-test?  I don't want to be a party pooper, but there was a relatively famous case of a porn start that tested negative from a PCR for 2 consecutive months after expousure, and the tested positive pcr on the 3 month.   Most of the girls he had sex with within those 3 months tested positive....   google it, you will find it. Some of the girls he had sex with never did return for testing, so the end result is kind of questionable.

This is the only case that I am aware of. There may have been some circumstances, or some changes in procedures since then that prevent this from occuring.  I read once on thebody, I think it was....  the doc said if you get 2 PCR in a row you are in the clear for sure...

Wishing you all the best, and wear a jimmy

[shiblee101]

I have no idea what you are saying Jimmy?  Do I need to retest?  I did have 2 negative RNA PCRs, one negative DNA PCR, and multiple negative elisa test.  I only tested out to 11 weeks (negative rna pcr and elisa)--is that sufficient?

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

You have got to remember, no one here are physicians specializing in STD/HIV etc.  There are some medical providers here, some physicians within their own country etc.

And some folks here that are living the same hell, that have read a ton of information.....  


Now in my opinion, I say no, a negative PCR is supposed to be extremely good news. Especially at 11 weeks. If you wanted to test again through a quick cheap test method and it was convienent for you, then yea sure go ahead get some piece of mind.

If it were me, I'd be skipping down the road to the nearest 7/11 to go by some ice cream and celebrate,  

[mike_no]

Shiblee,

You are conclusively HIV negative.

1.PCRs are very sensitive test, they directly look for the virus in the body unlike the antibody test which looks for the immune response to the infection

2.An RNA PCR can detect the virus as early as 72 hours after the infection, remember got it done at the 11th week !

3.HIV virus replicates in millions every day, so do you imagine , if one really has the virus in the body what would be the viral load by the 11th week in 'HUGE MILLIONS'

4. The minimum sensitivity of PCR tests could be as high as 50 copies/ ml and we are laking about some millions here !

5. Hence a PCR test at the time frame that you have taken completely rules out the HIV infection.

6. You did a great job by backing the PCRs by an antibody test, that makes it 100 % conclusive, I can bet on $ 5000 that you don't have HIV, guaranteed !

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Redfish....  it is really early in the morning.... i read your post, not sure what I said was not true... but if so, that is good news, yes?

You seem to know the facts of that particular case.  The only thing I remember clearly, is that he did get it down in Brazil, had 3 neg. PCR's, some of the people ivolved also tested pos.


But I can't stare at the dates and decipher a time line,   thanks

[Red Fish 88]

11 weeks should be good.  Test if you need the neg. to ease your mind.  It will be neg.

[shiblee101]

Was the testing in the porn star case an antibody test or pcr test?

[Red Fish 88]

What you posted about the porn star is not true.  The actor was Darren James. This was in 04 or 05, I'm not sure.  Anyway, he contracted the disease on 3-10 in Brazil, he had tested neg. on 2/24 and 3/17.  The 3/17 neg. was 7 days after his exposure.  Which was insertive anal.  He then tested pos. on 4/13.  This was his next test.  Between 3/10 & 4/13 he had insertive anal sex with 15 women.  Some of which were DAs, which would cause excessive tearing in one's rectum, I assume (I've never been on that end of anal sex). Of the 15 women only 3 turned up positive and none of the second generation men (the men who had sex with the women who turned up +) turned up positive.  All experience flu like symptoms and severe rashes and all turned up positive before 6 weeks.

[shiblee101]

If the rna pcr test is so accurate then why place so much emphasis on the antibody test--especially the torture of waiting at least 6 weeks?  this is something i still don't understand!

[mike_no]

1. Lack of awareness since it's recently approved by FDA
2. Lesser Access to the test, it's not available every where in the world
3. It's an expensive test
4. It's not a stand lone test

[MIK67]

I still feel horrible with fatigue and swollen glands... body aches, joint aches etc...  I have had a few night sweats that only moistened my t-shirt.  I HAVE NO APPETITE!!!  Lost 12-14lbs...I had a PCR (50ppm) at my 11th week with an anti-body. They were both negative but my CD4 was 203 and my CD8 was 133.  Normal is >500 and >300 respectively.  My doctor says 'it could be due to the EBV infection"  People with full blown HIV have higher CD counts than me!!!  I have been trying to post a question to the doc, but it is full.  I am freaking out!!!