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Is there anything other than early-stage HIV that could cause the clinic to want to retest me?
Hi everyone,
I made a big, big mistake a few weeks ago- had unprotected vaginal+oral sex with a prostitute who was, let's say not in the classiest area of town around. Yeah, I know, my own fault, I was an idiot.
3 1/2 weeks post-exposure, I started to feel irritation around the tip of my penis. A couple of small spots also appeared on the shaft which had not been there before. It was this irritation that prompted me to go to the clinic right away (otherwise I'd have left it 3 months as per the guidelines).
So they did all the tests- gave me that swab at the opening of the urethra, and took a urine sample for Chlamydia+Gonnerea, and did the blood tests. I don't think they tested for herpes (sadly I think I've caught that, hence the two bumps on my penis shaft).
Long and short of it is, everything came back negative, however the nurse said there was something unusual about my HIV test results, and wanted me to go back in for retesting, which I'm going to do this week (6 weeks post-exposure). The antibody test was negative, but she still said I needed to retest due to some issue with the results- not sure what the issue was exactly.
Now my mind instantly raced to the possibility (probability?) that this was representive of early-stage HIV infection, where my body hasn't yet had time to produce the antibodies given the test was taken at 3 1/2 weeks. That would seem to stack up with all the evidence avaliable (i.e. high risk girl, 3.5 weeks test).
I'm going back next week for further testing. I'm fully expecting a positive result this time round- though is there anything else that could concievably cause retesting to be warranted other than early-stage HIV infection? The nurse said if I was ill prior to the test that could cause the results to be off, but I haven't been ill ever since my exposure (so I suppose on the plus side I haven't got any ARS symptoms, though I know you can't use symptoms to diagnose).
Is there anything else that could be causing such results?
I made a big, big mistake a few weeks ago- had unprotected vaginal+oral sex with a prostitute who was, let's say not in the classiest area of town around. Yeah, I know, my own fault, I was an idiot.
3 1/2 weeks post-exposure, I started to feel irritation around the tip of my penis. A couple of small spots also appeared on the shaft which had not been there before. It was this irritation that prompted me to go to the clinic right away (otherwise I'd have left it 3 months as per the guidelines).
So they did all the tests- gave me that swab at the opening of the urethra, and took a urine sample for Chlamydia+Gonnerea, and did the blood tests. I don't think they tested for herpes (sadly I think I've caught that, hence the two bumps on my penis shaft).
Long and short of it is, everything came back negative, however the nurse said there was something unusual about my HIV test results, and wanted me to go back in for retesting, which I'm going to do this week (6 weeks post-exposure). The antibody test was negative, but she still said I needed to retest due to some issue with the results- not sure what the issue was exactly.
Now my mind instantly raced to the possibility (probability?) that this was representive of early-stage HIV infection, where my body hasn't yet had time to produce the antibodies given the test was taken at 3 1/2 weeks. That would seem to stack up with all the evidence avaliable (i.e. high risk girl, 3.5 weeks test).
I'm going back next week for further testing. I'm fully expecting a positive result this time round- though is there anything else that could concievably cause retesting to be warranted other than early-stage HIV infection? The nurse said if I was ill prior to the test that could cause the results to be off, but I haven't been ill ever since my exposure (so I suppose on the plus side I haven't got any ARS symptoms, though I know you can't use symptoms to diagnose).
Is there anything else that could be causing such results?
I know, but I'm only at the 6 week testing stage. Does a 6 week PCR negative test overrule a 3.5 week indeterminate antibody test?
Hey everyone, I had another test today. The nurse also gave me a PCR test so I could get the results in 30 minutes (although they also sent a sample off to the lab which will have results ready in a week).
The PCR test came back negative. The nurse said that it was very rare at 6 weeks that the PCR would get it wrong, but that they'd send the other blood sample off for antibody testing anyway.
The original test (the inconclusive one), was explained to me as they tested 3 different things in my blood that signify HIV, and all three have to reture positive for a HIV+ diagnosis. In my original test, one of those three things returned positive, with 2 negative.
Given the one-positive-two-negative original diagnosis (after 3.5 weeks) can I fully rely on the PCR negative test at 6 weeks? Or could I still be yet to exit the window period?
The PCR test came back negative. The nurse said that it was very rare at 6 weeks that the PCR would get it wrong, but that they'd send the other blood sample off for antibody testing anyway.
The original test (the inconclusive one), was explained to me as they tested 3 different things in my blood that signify HIV, and all three have to reture positive for a HIV+ diagnosis. In my original test, one of those three things returned positive, with 2 negative.
Given the one-positive-two-negative original diagnosis (after 3.5 weeks) can I fully rely on the PCR negative test at 6 weeks? Or could I still be yet to exit the window period?
is there anything else that could concievably cause retesting to be warranted other than early-stage HIV infection?
yes...TESTING too early
your 6 weeks test will give you a very good indication of your status, and unlikely to change at that point. follow up at 3 months
yes...TESTING too early
your 6 weeks test will give you a very good indication of your status, and unlikely to change at that point. follow up at 3 months
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