False Positive Result on Monostop Test due to ARS?

About 4 weeks ago, I had a low risk encounter (unprotected oral (I was the receptive partner), protected vaginal) with a prostitute.  I don't believe the condom broke, but I didn't really look at it when I was done to know for sure.  When I took the condom off, a piece of toilet paper did stick to the tip of my penis, and I may have brushed the tip of my penis with the used condom that had her vaginal fluid on it as I got it off.  I know in my brain that this was a low to no risk encounter.  However, I started to come down with a sore throat, swollen tonsils with white spots, headaches, congestion, and possibly some night sweats about 4 days ago.  My wife also thinks I had a very slight rash on my stomach about 1-2 days before the rest of the symptoms came on, but it has now gone away.  I think it is important to note that I do NOT have a fever or any extra fatigue to speak of.  

I went to the doctor 2 days ago because my tonsils were essentially touching.  The strep test was negative, but the monostop test came back positive.  Thus I apparently have mono, though I did not kiss this woman.  Everyone I've ever known with mono has been "knocked out" with fever and fatigue (which I don't have) for several days to weeks.  My question to you is:  IF a person was suffering from acute retroviral syndrome, is there a possibility that the monostop test could come back with a false positive?  If so, what kind of a chance is it?

Thanks for your thoughts, doctor.  I'm hoping you can put my mind at ease.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  The exposure you describe was NO RISK.  HIV is not spread by oral sex, in condom protected sex or on inanimate objects such as toilet paper.  You have mono which you may well have caught somewhere other than in the encounter you describe.   HIV dies not cause false positive HIV tests.  My sincere advice is for you to believe your test results and to stop worrying about HIV.  All of your signs and symptoms are completely typical of mononucleosis.  EWH

[jeff172441]

Thanks Doctor.  I assume it is a typo when you say that "HIV dies not cause false positive HIV tests"....I assume you meant that HIV doesn't cause false positive mono tests...which is what I was hoping you'd say.  I just thought it strange to have mono without fever and fatigue.

Thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sorry for the typo.  I meant to type Mono does not typically cause false positve HIV tests.

Mono is  a highly variable infection. While many people have fatigue and/or fever, not all do.  EWH

[jeff172441]

Mono does not cause false positive HIV tests....but does HIV/ARS cause false positive mono tests?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No!  EWH