Aa
Scared
Please help I did a really stupid thing recently. I had unprotected sex with a girl that I do not know at all. Actually we attempted to have sex, but i guess due to lack of lubricant I was unable to get my penis in. I would say we tried for about a minute or less, and when it didnt work we stopped. I took an hiv antibody test 24 days after the encounter wich came back negative, but then I found out that was to early. So I took a hiv rna test on day 30 which was also negative. Ive had a slight sore throat and I think my lymph nodes are a little swollen. Having said that I know alot of the symptoms are usually in peoples heads. Its been 7 weeks now and I want to take another antibody test but is it still too early? And how at risk am I? Thank you for your time and please get back to me I am really worried.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to hear it -- not surprised of course, but congratulations. Thanks for the thanks.
Dr HHH was right as always. I took the ELISA Antibody test at 8 weeks and Im hAppy to say that it came back negative. Thank you for your time, and trying to put my mind at ease. Hopefully now I can put all this behind me. Sorry for bothering you with the additional posts, I was just scared, as this has truly been the worst 8 weeks of my life.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I stand behind my advice and previous replies, and I told you what the standard advice is. My guess is that you are getting conflicting advice mostly because of the way you are asking the question. I suggest you stop asking for alternate opinions and accept the apparently difficult truth that you did not catch HIV and have nothing to worry about. Also, you may be interested to know that in the 7 years of this forum, not one person has turned out to have caught HIV from an exposure that concerned them. If and when that happens, it will be someone at real risk -- e.g. a gay man with multiple partners. It isn't going to be you.
That will be all for this thread. No more comments permitted.
That will be all for this thread. No more comments permitted.
Thanks again, sorry to bother you again. I talked to three different people at the testing facility and got three different answers. One said thaty pcr test was conclusive and that I needed no further testing, one said I should have another pcr and that would definently be conclusive, and the last one said the only way to be sure would be to take the HIV panel test wich is 1500 dollars. So now I am really confused. Please help, and again I am sorry for bothering you again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
All the nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) -- which include PCR and releated technologies to detect DNA, RNA, or both -- are equivalent for this purpose. Rapid tests for HIV antibody are highly reliable; you can be sure the testing center is giving reliable results. So none of this changes my opinion or advice. As suggested above, standard procedure is to have a final antibody test at least 6-8 weeks (or up to 3 months) after the last exposure; follow the testint center's advice about timing. But in the meantime, stay mellow. You aren't infected and all is well.
Thank you for your quick response. I was actually wrong about my test at thirty days, it was a DNA pcr test, coupled with another antibody test. Does that change your response at all? And it was through rapid screening center, are they reliable? Thank you for your time as I still feel a bit uneasy.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
The level of risk associated with this exposure is irrelevant. That's because the blood test results prove you were not infected. You could have mainlined HIV infected blood -- my conclusion would be the same. It simply is not possible to have a new HIV infection with both a negative RNA test at 1 month and negative antibody test at 3.5 weeks. For these reasons, test results always overrule symptoms and exposure history in deciding whether or not someone has a new HIV infection -- as long as testing is done sufficiently long after exposure.
That said, this was essentially a zero risk exposure anyway, since there was no penetration, and it is statistically unlikely your partner had HIV. Also, your symptoms are not typical for a new HIV infection. It sounds like you have a minor cold, nothing more.
If you would like further reassurance, you could have another antibody test at any time; 6-8 weeks (not 3 months) is sufficient. You can be sure it will remain negative.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
The level of risk associated with this exposure is irrelevant. That's because the blood test results prove you were not infected. You could have mainlined HIV infected blood -- my conclusion would be the same. It simply is not possible to have a new HIV infection with both a negative RNA test at 1 month and negative antibody test at 3.5 weeks. For these reasons, test results always overrule symptoms and exposure history in deciding whether or not someone has a new HIV infection -- as long as testing is done sufficiently long after exposure.
That said, this was essentially a zero risk exposure anyway, since there was no penetration, and it is statistically unlikely your partner had HIV. Also, your symptoms are not typical for a new HIV infection. It sounds like you have a minor cold, nothing more.
If you would like further reassurance, you could have another antibody test at any time; 6-8 weeks (not 3 months) is sufficient. You can be sure it will remain negative.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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