Aa
Exposure and Testing
Doctor,
A little over a month ago I had sex with a stripper for no more than 5 minutes. She provided the condom and put the condom on me. After we had finished she had removed the condom. The condom appeared to be intact when she took it off of me. I understand that this is low risk, but what has me very worried is that I used one of her condoms and not one of mine. I am questioning the quality and reliability of the condom she supplied. This happened in a not so great area and it was not very expensive. I would feel so much more relieved if I used a condom of my own because I know what type and the storage of the condom.
I went and ordered an HIV PCR DNA test from an online testing service. I took the test 21 days after exposure. (Which is the amount of days the website recommended I wait) I thought my negative result was very reliable until I read a few posts stating this type of test is not recommended for diagnostics purposes and is not conclusive at all. Now I am concerned that my negative result means nothing and that my result is not conclusive.
Is my negative test result meaningless? I am planning on going for an Antibody test between 7-8 weeks (which would be in about 3 weeks from today)
Please provide some guidance on my test results and how confident can I be in them.
Thank you
A little over a month ago I had sex with a stripper for no more than 5 minutes. She provided the condom and put the condom on me. After we had finished she had removed the condom. The condom appeared to be intact when she took it off of me. I understand that this is low risk, but what has me very worried is that I used one of her condoms and not one of mine. I am questioning the quality and reliability of the condom she supplied. This happened in a not so great area and it was not very expensive. I would feel so much more relieved if I used a condom of my own because I know what type and the storage of the condom.
I went and ordered an HIV PCR DNA test from an online testing service. I took the test 21 days after exposure. (Which is the amount of days the website recommended I wait) I thought my negative result was very reliable until I read a few posts stating this type of test is not recommended for diagnostics purposes and is not conclusive at all. Now I am concerned that my negative result means nothing and that my result is not conclusive.
Is my negative test result meaningless? I am planning on going for an Antibody test between 7-8 weeks (which would be in about 3 weeks from today)
Please provide some guidance on my test results and how confident can I be in them.
Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
For practical purposes, the combination of both negative antibody and PCR at 3 weeks probably is 100% secure. However, there has been no research to prove it, i.e. no studies of this particular test combination and timing. If I were in your situation, I would not have gotten tested at all; and if I had done so, I would now consider myself home free and would not be tested again. But if the lack of specific research makes you nervous, have confirmatory antibody test at 7-8 weeks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
First, you had a zero risk exposure. You had condom-protected sex, therefore from a risk standpoint, no HIV testing was necessary. Second, in the US, it is the rare commercial sex worker or stripper who has HIV. But most important, as long as HIV testing is done sufficiently long after the last exposure, the results are completely reliable -- and test results always overrule exposure history and symptoms, because the results are much more reliable. And you read some misinformation about the HIV DNA test. It is correct that the test is not perfect, but that's because it can given false positive results. However, a NEGATIVE result at 3 weeks is proof you were not infected. If you want still more proof, feel free to have an antibody test 7-8 weeks after the exposure, as you are planning to do. It will also be negative.
Really, this was a nothing event in terms of HIV risk. All is well.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
First, you had a zero risk exposure. You had condom-protected sex, therefore from a risk standpoint, no HIV testing was necessary. Second, in the US, it is the rare commercial sex worker or stripper who has HIV. But most important, as long as HIV testing is done sufficiently long after the last exposure, the results are completely reliable -- and test results always overrule exposure history and symptoms, because the results are much more reliable. And you read some misinformation about the HIV DNA test. It is correct that the test is not perfect, but that's because it can given false positive results. However, a NEGATIVE result at 3 weeks is proof you were not infected. If you want still more proof, feel free to have an antibody test 7-8 weeks after the exposure, as you are planning to do. It will also be negative.
Really, this was a nothing event in terms of HIV risk. All is well.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
"Based on my encounter and my test results can I safely 100% say I am HIV Negative after this encounter?"
Yes. As in my original reply, it was 100% certain you were HIV negative before you were ever tested! In any case, the test results you have had care completely reliable.
Yes. As in my original reply, it was 100% certain you were HIV negative before you were ever tested! In any case, the test results you have had care completely reliable.
HI Doctor,
This will be my final post. I just went to Planned Parenthood and took an HIV Rapid Test and the results of course came back negative.
I would have liked to have had 8 full weeks complete but due to a busy next two weeks I couldnt do so.
So I tested Negative at 21 days on a HIV DNA PCR and Antibody Test and Negative on a 54 day HIV Rapid Test.
Based on my encounter and my test results can I safely 100% say I am HIV Negative after this encounter.
Thanks in advance. Your comments and help in this post (and throughout the forum) has helped me tremendously and I really do appreciate it. I feel very relieved.
This will be my final post. I just went to Planned Parenthood and took an HIV Rapid Test and the results of course came back negative.
I would have liked to have had 8 full weeks complete but due to a busy next two weeks I couldnt do so.
So I tested Negative at 21 days on a HIV DNA PCR and Antibody Test and Negative on a 54 day HIV Rapid Test.
Based on my encounter and my test results can I safely 100% say I am HIV Negative after this encounter.
Thanks in advance. Your comments and help in this post (and throughout the forum) has helped me tremendously and I really do appreciate it. I feel very relieved.
Thank you for the information Doctor. I really appreciate it and feel much better.
I did mean to add that the HIV PCR DNA test I took at 3 weeks also included an antibody test.
Based on your response and my testing I am assuming another test at 7-8 weeks is a waste of time and money as my tests at 3 weeks are conclusive?
This will be all for me and I do thank you very much.
I did mean to add that the HIV PCR DNA test I took at 3 weeks also included an antibody test.
Based on your response and my testing I am assuming another test at 7-8 weeks is a waste of time and money as my tests at 3 weeks are conclusive?
This will be all for me and I do thank you very much.
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