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HIV test
Dear MD H.Hunter.Handsfield
I have been in a situation that got me scared about the possibility og getting HIV infection.
On vacation I had sex with a women I didn’t know, (I was drunk) and I don’t know name or anything else. This was little over 4 weeks ago.
I was using a condom all the time, but what scares me was that I did some unprotected oralsex on her. Now I read that there probably only is a theoretic chance to get HIV from doing oralsex but I got scared and the thought keep going in my head.
I have taken test for Chlamydia, Gonore, mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis that all was negative.
Then 28 days after I first took a rapid HIV test that was negative. I have read a lot on the internet about HIV testing. I get more and more confused. I found your name and article on the internet, and I understand that you are the most credible expert I have found on the net.
So I then went to another clinic and took a 4th generation Combi test. I got back the answer and it was all negative. In Denmark they say this test is 100% after 28 days, would you say its 100% now? Should I relax and focus on my getting back to normal life? Can I now have unprotected sex with my girlfriend?
Is it necessary to take any more testing?
I will be thankful for your answer so I can get some peace in mind.
I have been in a situation that got me scared about the possibility og getting HIV infection.
On vacation I had sex with a women I didn’t know, (I was drunk) and I don’t know name or anything else. This was little over 4 weeks ago.
I was using a condom all the time, but what scares me was that I did some unprotected oralsex on her. Now I read that there probably only is a theoretic chance to get HIV from doing oralsex but I got scared and the thought keep going in my head.
I have taken test for Chlamydia, Gonore, mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis that all was negative.
Then 28 days after I first took a rapid HIV test that was negative. I have read a lot on the internet about HIV testing. I get more and more confused. I found your name and article on the internet, and I understand that you are the most credible expert I have found on the net.
So I then went to another clinic and took a 4th generation Combi test. I got back the answer and it was all negative. In Denmark they say this test is 100% after 28 days, would you say its 100% now? Should I relax and focus on my getting back to normal life? Can I now have unprotected sex with my girlfriend?
Is it necessary to take any more testing?
I will be thankful for your answer so I can get some peace in mind.
Apart from being a US based forum, the link alderick84 provides also shows EXACTLY why we stick to the 12-week conclusive result despite the DUO's extreme accuracy and an 8 week negative.
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Dr HHH:
"Dr. Bob is simply saying that when the risk of HIV infection is particularly high, it is sometimes wise to have an extra test at the lastest possible time. WE DO THE SAME THING HERE. Even though we almost always say 6-8 weeks is plenty of time, when someone is at particularly high risk, WE ADVISE TESTING AT 3 MONTHS. "
"Now assume a known HIV infected partner has unprotected anal sex. The receptive partner has a 1% chance of catching HIV, or 1 in 100. If a test at 4 weeks is negative, his chance of being infected drops to 1 in 1,000. A lot better than 1 in 100, but obviously not good enough. Same test, done at the same time after exposure, but a very different level of reassurance. This person clearly needs another test or two. Even at 6-8 weeks, when the test picks up nearly all (let's say 99%) of infections, the chance he has HIV is still 1 in 10,000. Better still, but good enough? Maybe not. THEREFORE DR HOOK OR I WOULD RECOMMEND A 3 MONTH TEST."
Please follow the link alderick84 has kindly provided, which also redirects you to other links, and you will see the quotes above from Dr Handsdsfield.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/what-is-the-window-period-for-hiv/show/1704700
=====================================================
Dr HHH:
"Dr. Bob is simply saying that when the risk of HIV infection is particularly high, it is sometimes wise to have an extra test at the lastest possible time. WE DO THE SAME THING HERE. Even though we almost always say 6-8 weeks is plenty of time, when someone is at particularly high risk, WE ADVISE TESTING AT 3 MONTHS. "
"Now assume a known HIV infected partner has unprotected anal sex. The receptive partner has a 1% chance of catching HIV, or 1 in 100. If a test at 4 weeks is negative, his chance of being infected drops to 1 in 1,000. A lot better than 1 in 100, but obviously not good enough. Same test, done at the same time after exposure, but a very different level of reassurance. This person clearly needs another test or two. Even at 6-8 weeks, when the test picks up nearly all (let's say 99%) of infections, the chance he has HIV is still 1 in 10,000. Better still, but good enough? Maybe not. THEREFORE DR HOOK OR I WOULD RECOMMEND A 3 MONTH TEST."
Please follow the link alderick84 has kindly provided, which also redirects you to other links, and you will see the quotes above from Dr Handsdsfield.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/what-is-the-window-period-for-hiv/show/1704700
Dr Hansfield is very reputable specialist in HIV, sadly he doesn't post here anymore, as far as I know this forum is run only by volunteers how aren't doctors but have knowledge in this subject and want to help.
Now about your case, your weren't exposed to any risk in the first place so no testing was needed, there are no documented cases of people getting HIV by doing what you did.
About the test you took, 4th gen Elisa tests are very accurate and can catch infections sooner than 3rd gen. It seems this is a US based forum so we should follow CDC's recommendations and inform people that in the US a 4th gen test taken at 4 - 6 weeks is an excellent indicator about a person's status, extremely unlikely to change but it has to be confirmed by another test after twelve weeks to be conclusive. A doctor, based on you risk and his experience might tell you to stop testing sooner than that, but as we're not doctors we couldn't tell you that.
However your weren't exposed to any risk at all.
Read what Dr Handfield has to say about CDC's window periods.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/what-is-the-window-period-for-hiv/show/1704700
Dr Hasfield advised many cases like yours, look them up in the forum and you'll find them easily.
If I were you, I'd continue with my life and forget about all this.
Now about your case, your weren't exposed to any risk in the first place so no testing was needed, there are no documented cases of people getting HIV by doing what you did.
About the test you took, 4th gen Elisa tests are very accurate and can catch infections sooner than 3rd gen. It seems this is a US based forum so we should follow CDC's recommendations and inform people that in the US a 4th gen test taken at 4 - 6 weeks is an excellent indicator about a person's status, extremely unlikely to change but it has to be confirmed by another test after twelve weeks to be conclusive. A doctor, based on you risk and his experience might tell you to stop testing sooner than that, but as we're not doctors we couldn't tell you that.
However your weren't exposed to any risk at all.
Read what Dr Handfield has to say about CDC's window periods.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/what-is-the-window-period-for-hiv/show/1704700
Dr Hasfield advised many cases like yours, look them up in the forum and you'll find them easily.
If I were you, I'd continue with my life and forget about all this.
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