HIV Testing, In need to help

[2509]

In a foreign country I had what looked to be a positive HIV 1&2 antibody test. The test was "reactive" with less than 1,0 on the test being negative and greater than 1,0 being "reactive", my result was: 2,1 S/CO, or reactive. No follow up test as I was in foreign country (albeit in a top, modern, 'American' hospital)  This was exactly 1 month after what I thought was exposure via insertive/receptive unprotected male-male sex. One week previously (3 weeks after assumed exposure) I began a very bad illness: fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, potentially mouth/tongue discoloration and sores, very bad sore throat and night sweats. After about 10 days of illness (3 days after the test a little over 4 1/2 weeks after assumed exposure) the symptoms faded, but some have continued to a certain extent for the last month: some tiredness, night sweats, going to the bathroom at least twice or more/day and a general sense of "not well". I had begun to accept the fact of being positive, however, finally being back in the US and in a city this week and in a place where I could seek out medical care, I was told I would need to retest to confirm before I could be enrolled in support programs. They said they would perform a rapid test, and if that too was positive  they would send away for confirmation of results.  At what is now almost exactly 2 months (61 days) after (assumed exposure) and a little over one month after the start of the flu-like symptoms I had a Uni Gold rapid blood test that came back negative!! Needless to say I began to cry, I had begun to TRY to accept this and figure out a way to get into treatment, I was certain, and then this. In trying to subdue any optimism just yet, I realize that it is possible to still test negative on an antibody test at 8 weeks - the center suggested a viral load test (that they could not perform) and now I will not be anywhere near a place where I could have this test until sometime next week!! I am desperately trying to avoid any emotions of relief that try to overcome me - but this is just such a strange, strange situation. Please if anyone has any advice, or knows of a Dr. online or site that gives information about test results. I read some places that at 2 months an antibody test should be 95% accurate, some said even more, as much as 99+% accurate, some seemed to suggest less accuracy at 8 weeks. Trying to limit rambling, I have a few questions, as I will not be in a city where I can perform more test for another week, and I don't know what to think at this point: After starting into what I had assumed to be ARS, acute seroconversion illness, would it not be likely to have antibodies 1 month post start of this illness? Is the act of seroconversion and the illness mean that the body has begun to recognize and produce antibodies - even if some aspects of the illness seemed to continue for sometime after the more sever 1 week period? I know that I need the viral load test to confirm, and then antibody testing at 3 months, but now at 2 months and with these results, what should I think while waiting to take the test next week?  The Ora gold rapid blood test was performed in one of the major free clinic's in Manhattan, so I imagine quality is relatively high, and on the paper, it said Test for HIV 1 &  2 antibodies - my final question is, seeing as I was in a foreign country in Eastern Europe, is there a chance that this is an HIV 2 infection that was not picked up, or a rare strain of HIV 1 that was caught on the 1st test and not the 2nd? As noted on the paper, does Ora gold really test for HIV 1 and 2? My thought was that if the first test really had been a true positive result to HIV antibodies, another antibody test one month later would also be positive.  I am mortified that over the next few days optimism will get the best of me, and then I will have to go though this all over again - I'm not sure my mind/spirit can take that right now.... Thank you very, very much for any help/thoughts/ideas/suggestions.

[2509]

Thank you Vance, I will of course take the 3 month test, and even before that be tested for viral load to see if infection is there. However, I belive ora-gold is a 3rd generation test from what I read online. The 1st test I had (with the 'reactive' result) was 4th generation I think as it says on the paper it also tested for p24 antigen. Is it possible this test is just more accurate than the ora gold? Have you heard of someone after a high risk incident w/out a suppressed immune system or other serious condition testing positive after an 8 week, (60 day) negative rapid 3rd generation blood test? Thank you again!

[Vance2335]

Seems like you probably got a false positive when you 1st tested. Your test at 2 months is a very good indication. If you had gotten true ARS then your test probably would have been positive.

Make sure to take a 3 month test but overall your 2nd test looks very good for you.

And East Europe does not have any rare strains.