Just a "general" question about 3 month window period...

[BadDay1972]

I just have a general question for everyone...not because of just my exposure just because of what I've read Dr H and Dr Bob from the body.com say. They say we'll never know EXACT seroconversion time because they'd have to test 10,000 people after specific exposures and see when they seroconvert. If that is the case why and how do scientists/doctors consider 3 months to be conclusive? How did they come up with 3 months if they haven't been able to really study people? Also, are rapid tests just as accurate as the regular blood tests doctors do? I thought I'd ask here because the more I research the internet the more I scare myself.

Thanks.

[Fcj]

sorry, I already did.  I did not know how to use this site.  

[Teak]

Do not hijack other people's threads start your own thread to ask your questions.

[Fcj]

I recently had an exposure back in august 11 I was the insertive partner in anal sex.  I did use a condom and it was the SKYN (lifestyle condom) since I am allergic to latex.  I am not sure if the condom tore/broke since I did not ejaculate in it.  I pulled out and ejaculated on the person.  2 weeks after, I developed a rash on my penis head and has been there since.  Is this a sign of HIV ARS?

[zimmerman]

how could it be that if dr bob says if known exposure test to six months. ?  all those expert are saying in a low prevelence. its scary

[salanto]

I came in contact with this 17 years old lady who told me she has had sex before may be a couple of times with a particular guy who used a condom in messing her virginity up but subsequently after then he didn't use condom. Here i fell a victim by sleeping with her without a condom. Well, what exactly happened was this; i just started by deeping my penis three times into her vagina and not deep before i  remembered and stopped immediately. Could i have contact HIV in this stupid act? its over 3 months now and i have decided to go for a test.

[RULER]

badday i am so sorry man, but i had to laugh when i read your commnent #3.
it sounded like u were dobber's son and he was about to punish u cause u did something bad. lol

[BadDay1972]

Also,

I read on the body - that Dr. Bob recommends testing out to SIX months if you had been exposed to a KNOWN HIV POSITIVE partner. How am I supposed to know? She was a vegas stripper from the Czech Republic. Should I assume she had it because she was a stripper? It seems like they would be "higher" risk than a normal gal...yeah?

[dobber21]

In 2000, there was a study by Swedish scientists of 30 people who could precisely state their date of exposure. With third generation testing each one of them tested positive within 8 weeks. It's not a huge study, but it highlights how unusual it would be for seroconversion to act longer.

A study completed in 1997 - obviously using 1st and 2nd generation tests - had 97% of people seroconverting within three months. Since then there have been massive inroads made in the field of HIV testing. Accuracy is far higher with these tests than with those that test for ANY other disease.

Experience tells us that, with modern testing, no one is testing positive past three months. Against that, most people who test positive aren't really sure when their exposure was. For those who are, it is becoming clearer and clearer that if they have been infected, antibodies are present nearly always by six weeks, and always by three months. But most of us WWs aren't happy with that, hence my advice to test out to as long as it takes for you to be able to look in the mirror and say 'I am HIV negative'.

But, as I never seem to be done telling you, none of the above matters in your case. Because you didn't have a risk. And I swear, if you re-post your story of symptoms and panic, I'll report you to MedHelp. Again

[BadDay1972]

Dob,

Come on now man...you know I've been good over the past couple of weeks. I just want to know when "my" testing will be final - risk or no risk! I'm testing based on my symptoms and the fact the doc asked me if i had been exposed to HIV recently not the fact that i made out with a stripper and had genital rubbing with a chic. Trust me, I know the odds - I know it all - but I just want to be sure I didn't get HIV from this "freakish" exposure. Is that too much to ask? I'm not nearly as nervous as I was a few weeks ago - in fact, I have NOT tested since week 8 and I'm planning on getting a "FINAL" NEGATIVE (i hope) test at 3 months. I just want to know that I can stop testing after 3 months because the neurologist said I may have had a mild case of Guillain Barre Syndrome which is an autoimmune disorder accompanied with my tingling and rashes I'm getting allover my body - especially my face - I also have 2 HUGE mouth ulcers - I just want to know that GBS wouldn't delay seroconversion and finally put this HIV thing behind me. I'm not trying to make anyone mad by reposting. I see a lot of people posting about things like deep kissing and sticking bottles up anuses and what have you WITHOUT any symptoms afterward and everyone is taking them seriously and treating them like they aren't crazy - unlike me. Listen, I don't want to repeat myself...I just respect and knowledge from everyone here so that I can hopefully gather a 3 month HIV negative and believe that I can put it behind me....

Is that too much to ask?

[worriedmang]

300+ hiv experts were asked at a conference if they had seen an 8 week negative turn pos in the last 5 years, none of them have. 3 months is conclusive, most people will develop enough antibodys by week 6