OraQuick and PCR DNA Accurate?

[fitnessfreak720]

I am male. I had a sexual encounter about 6 weeks ago. It last about 5 mintues and I did not ejaculate in the woman. Since then I have an extreme anxiety. I had an OraQuick Home test done at 4 weeks, which was negative, another done at 5 weeks which was negative and one done yesterday which was negative. I also had blood drawn for the Western Blot and PCR DNA test, won't have those results until tomorrow. Last week I started having a stiff neck, some sinus pressure (pressure in face and around eyes) and a white tongue (not patchy, moreso just slightly white). I have spoken to the girl and she swears she is "clean" but I still have major anxiety because people lie. Should I feel confident in my 3 OraQuckk exams? Will a negative result from my PCR DNA test be a conclusive/a good indicator of negative status? Also, what is the probability that I contracted HIV from her? I've had no headache, night sweats, rash, cough, lesions, etc. Even though I do know that symptoms mean nothing definitively.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I'll be pleased to comment, both about the risk of this exposure and the tests you have had.

The exposure itself was very, very low risk from a statistical point of view.  Fewer than 1 in 10,000 American women who are not IV drug users have HIV and even in the unlikely situation that your partner had HIV, the risk of transmission is only one transmission for every 1000 acts of sexual intercourse. Thus the statistical risk of the onetime encounter you mention is less than 1 in 10 million.  

The testing you have had makes your risk lower still.  Test such as the OraQuick tests detect most but not all recent HIV infections at 4-6 weeks.  As for the tests you have just ordered since, if they are all negative, then you can be completely confident that you do not have HIV.  I would not have recommended such tests however since your risk of a falsely positive HIV PCR is more than 1000 times higher than the likelihood of having gotten HIV form the encounter you have described.  

If you don't mind, could I ask you just how much you spend on your recent set of tests I(the PCR and Western Blot)?

Bottom line, this was a very low risk encounter and your preliminary test results strongly confirm that you did not get HIV.  I would not be worried in the least.  I hope these comments are helpful to you. EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are repeating yourself. As I told you, you should believe these results and move forward. No need for repeat testing.  EWH

[fitnessfreak720]

Dr. Hook - just wanted to follow-up w/ you with the results to last Thursday's tests:

HIV 1/2 Anitbody w/ Western Blot Confirmation - Negative
HIV DNA by PCR - Negative

It has been about 6/7 weeks since my one-time encounter. With the above results, combined w/ my THREE negative OraQuick tests at 4,5 & 6 weeks - can I finally breathe a sigh of relief? Sorry if I'm repeating myself...

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, this does not change my assessment or advice.  EWH

[fitnessfreak720]

I also forgot to mention, my tongue is white. Went to Urgent Care today and the doctor said he is confident I have a mild virus infection. Should I be worried about the tongue? No bumps or anything, just white, like I just brushed my teeth.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, i fthey are negative, the result wil bedefintive.  If they are positve, there is a high chance they will be false positve but let's not go there until you have your result.  EWH

[fitnessfreak720]

Thank you for your timely reply! My tests were a combined $250. Not sure if that is high or not, but with my current anxiety I didn't really care. You would consider these, combined with the OraQuick exams to pretty definitive?

The OraQuick tests made me feel better until my stiff neck and semi-sinus infection kicked in. I do realize that the odds are low, just wanted to check. I have no other symptoms, and the internet can drive you insane.

[fitnessfreak720]

The must add that encounter was unprotected...