Escort Services and HIV Screening

I just wanted to know what the general feeling about this was. Out of my paranoia, I contacted the escort service I used by e-mail, not really expecting a reply (I can understand them talking to you on the phone, but e-mails are so easy to ignore!). Amazingly, I did get a reply on the lines of...

"The girls get screened approximately every 2 weeks. They can't work if they screen positive."

Which basically means anyone still advertised on their site is HIV negative, at least up to their last screen, probably within the last 2 weeks. I have to admit I was amazed I even received a reply, but it does make me want to believe them.

What is everyone's thoughts about this?

[Teak]

You can't detect HIV in two weeks post exposure and be confirmed that one is HIV negative.

[WorriedT]

Hi Teak,

That's very true, but it does mean that if the escort in question remains on the site, she's likely to be continuing to be testing HIV negative.

Put it this way, it reduces the chances that she was HIV infected when I met her to the level that the risk was only if she was in a window period.

[Teak]

Lets put it this way. If the person tested today, it would be for the prior six weeks or longer. Her test results don't help you a bit if she was infected two weeks before her last test. The body has not had time to build up antibodies to be detected. Antigen testing have to be confirmed by an antibody test.

[WorriedUS]

Hi..I agree with both of you.

True..the tests for HIV every two weeks does not mean the girls are TRULY negative.  The escorts could be in the window period (the 6-8 week period) and thus be testing for a negative status.

But for those people using that escort service, it does allow a little more relief to know that these escorts are consistently tested, since one would argue, that if an escort turns out to be positive at one of those biweekly screenings, she would be taken out of the escort service lineup, if you will.  

Although not totally safe to use escorts as a sexual outlet, from a STD point of view, the fact that they even have a policy of testing on a consistent enough basis to inevitably weed out infected workers, does allow some more degree of risk-containment for those 'Johns' using that service.

Of course, consistent use of condoms and asking your partners status is also good to, rather than just being 'satisfied' with the testing policy.

Regards,

-WorriedUS

Wo

[Teak]

There is not a 6-8 week window period. It is 2-4 weeks.

[WorriedT]

Just to let you know HOW paranoid I am, the sex was protected. Only oral sex was not (both giving and receiving).

I know what Dr H would recommend - not testing at all as the risks are minute. (1 in 10000 or less etc, etc more chance of being struck by lightning....)

My mood swings range from not getting tested when my logical mind is functioning to wanting every test under the sun when it's not. I'm seeing a doctor tomorrow, though that's only day 12 post-exposure, which is way too early unless I go for a proviral DNA, which will probably not be recommended as the exposure risk was low and the potential of a false positive could seriously damage my fragile mental health.

You see - I have picked up nearly everything that has been said on both the HIV support forum and Dr H's answer and questions! I think concentrating on the escort service sort of helps my logical mind.

[WorriedT]

Just to say sorry if I'm just being irrational. I know the deal and I'm just trying to find ways of dealing with the waiting (or possibly not testing at all), even in my low risk situation.

It's weird how the mind grabs at things in this situation. I should just wait 4-6 weeks post-exposure and test myself, but another 3-4 weeks seems like forever (the last 11 days has felt like forever) and even though the risks are so low, I am terrified. It feels more comfortable to believe the escort service and see whether the escort is still on their website in about 2 months time. Either that or press for a proviral DNA tomorrow, even if it is inappropriate.

I probably need the counselling with the doctor more than anything else....

[Firstandlasttime]

I really doubt the 1/7 rate of HIV+ sexworker. It seems real high. I don't know what your exposure was. But protected sex is zero risk and oral sex is theoritical only, no proved case anywhere in the world.

Get tested to put this behind you. In the meantime, think about your 999,999 chances you're ok, not the ,0000001 chance you're not.

Regards.

[WorriedT]

Thanks for the support falt.

The girl in question did practice safe sex, at least using protection for vaginal sex, but not for oral sex. That makes the odds about 999,999 in 1000000 that it will be okay, though the girl was Latvian, so maybe the 1/100 may be a bit steep. In Latvia, I think the rate is about 1 in 7 for HIV in street prostitutes, though that is because of high IV drug use. There was no evidence of IV drug use in this escort (ie. no track marks or anything on her arms) and she was in London, using a high profile escort service with a good website and at a cost of

[Firstandlasttime]

I totally understand you.

Concerning the escorts, if they get tested bi-monthly, it is good evidence that they are practicing safe sex. Because sex workers know about the risks, they tend to be much more careful. Dr.HHH once said the risk are probably lower in CSW than in bar pick ups. If they want to keep on earning their money, they need to be clean and that means they do what it takes to stay clean.

Even though it doesn't guarantee anything, the chance your particular escort has HIV is probably lower than 1/100. So for unproctected vaginal, odds are now 1/200,000. Again it doesn't mean much, but if you think of it this way, you have 199,999/200,000 chances you are safe.

Good luck!

[Teak]

You never had a risk to begin with. I don't know why you are worrying yourself over testing.