Possible exposure - unaware of when/if further testing is needed!

Hello,
In late August, I had a potential exposure to HIV. I found out that a work colleague was HIV Positive. Prior to my knowledge of his diagnosis, a bunch of colleagues/ friends (including the one who was HIV Positive) went out for an evening at a Hookah Bar, where we enjoyed fresh Middle-Eastern tobacco. That night, we split the cost to rent the Hookah, and we shared it to enjoy our tobacco. We also shared drinking straws and cups that night, as well. I understand that HIV is not easily transmittable this way, and it is a low-risk. However, I did not want to take my chances. Last week, at 55 days after my potential exposure, I went to a clinic where I tested negative with an antibody test. At 58 days past exposure, I tested with an HIV DNA by PCR test - where the results also  came back negative, and were confirmed with another antibody test. As far as the lab is concerned, after 21 days past exposure, the HIV DNA by PCR test is conclusive. They recommended that I follow up with another antibody test at 3 months past exposure to 'confirm' the negative result of the PCR test.
My concern is this - how accurate is this PCR test? Will it definitely pick up on whether or not I have the virus after 58 days? Also, if I'm using an antibody test to confirm the result at 3 months, would it be necessary to follow up with an antibody test at 6 months, and then one year? I have heard from most websites and in person at clinics, that an antibody test is conclusive at 3 months - or rather, that 97% of people will develop antibodies within the first 3 months. However, I have also read and heard of stories where it took some people 6 - 12 months to develop antibodies. What do you recommend that I do? If I test negative at 3 months with an antibody, in addition to having already tested negative with an HIV DNA by PCR exam, should I then consider my results conclusive? Or, would you recommend that I test out until one year, or even repeat the PCR exam?
Your expertise and advice would be much appreciated.
P.S. - http://www.stdtestexpress.com/hiv-dna-pcr-test/ < -- There is some information on the test that I took 58 days after exposure, in addition to the lab that conducted it.
Thanks a lot,
A Concerned Citizen.

[Teak]

You never had an exposure and you never needed testing.

[acadia202]

I understand. However, I read on some websites that HIV is in fact transmittable through sharing cups, straws, and etc. The website stated specifically that if there were open sores in the mouth, which were bleeding, and were then transmitted to you through an open sore, or even a micro-wound in the mouth, then you are at risk. I don't know if this person had any open wounds in his mouth, or if (hypothetically speaking), he did - I don't know if he was bleeding. I know that I tend to have open sores and bleeding cuts in my gums and mouth at times - my concern is that there may have been some blood on the tip of the hookah or straw, which I then put in my mouth (which may have been bleeding), and then it was transmitted to me. I know that HIV dies outside of the body relatively quickly, but the sharing and passing of said hookah and drinks were less than seconds in between. Should I not be concerned at all? Is this not a relative concern?

[Teak]

I don't know where you were reading that BS, but it was totally incorrect. You never had a risk.

[acadia202]

It was on a forum on a health site. It was actually dated back to 2004. A member said that after you brush your teeth, you open millions of wounds on your gums and in your mouth, and after sharing a drink or open-mouth kissing someone who has recently brushed their teeth, is essentially inviting a transmission. I don't know about the validity of that, though..

[Teak]

There is no validity to it at all.

[scaredlonelady]

No way is there a risk! A negative and a positive who are lovers kiss and share tooth brushes for years and the neg stays neg. Please don't be one of those people who tells me I can't use there bathroom because I might have HIV. That is a load of bs and the stigma is uneducated people who don't know any better. I admit I am freaked out about my oral situation, but I did not flinch once about deep kissing an hiv pos man cause it has been known for years you can't get it unless you have sex or share needles!

[acadia202]

I didn't think that there was any validity to it, hence my doubtful inflection as I wrote the post. I posted that to make sure, to be responsible and ask. There is no need for the hostility.

[LIZZIE LOU]

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 09, 2010 05:51PM
Of course no risk. HIV is not transmitted by kissing, even with sores in the mouth.

Despite the billions of kissing events in the AIDS era, not one case of HIV has been known to be transmitted that way, even though millions of those kisses undoubtedly were with cuts in the mouth or on the lips.

There is no need for HIV testing, even if your kissing partner was at high risk for HIV (e.g., gay man, injection drug user), and even if s/he is known to have HIV.  Of course you can always get tested if you are unconvinced by this reassurance (and Teak's) and remain nervous about it.

HHH, MD

by Edward W Hook, MD, Feb 12, 2010 08:57PM
There is no risk to you of getting HIV or other STDs from kissing, even deep kissing an even if your mouth was dry an you had cold sores.

You do not need to be concerned and do not need testing of any sort.  EWH

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Sep 12, 2006 12:00AM
Kissing carries no significant risk of HIV or other STDs, with or without blood exposure, and I am unaware of any reports of transmission through mouth area bites.  I suppose the risk in theory is a little higher than kissing without biting, but even doubling a virtually zero risk still leaves virtually zero risk.  In any case, the statistical likelihood is low that the stripper is HIV infected.  I don't recommend testing.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

by Edward W Hook, MD, Mar 06, 2009 08:49AM
Your OCD is speaking to you far louder than the facts.  You do not need testing.  Kissing is no risk, even deep kissing and even with gum or dental disease.   No one has EVER been infected with HIV through kissing.   This includes kissing by all of the people who had HIV and gum disease, mouth sores, etc.

Finally, you do not even know that your partner was HIV infected.  Odds are that she was not.

EWH

[Teak]

You never had a risk. Kissing is not a means of HIV transmission. Take a trip over to the Doctor's forum and read all the replies on deep kissing, fingering and oral sex. NO RISK.

[IamWorried1]

I french kissed ag irl having Hiv and sTd for 5/6 time,she masturbated mine with hand,I licked her nipple 2 times for 30 seccond....I had brushed my teeth 1 hr before this incident....this leads mr to Hiv+?Please do help..do I need to go for test?suggest me please...

[LIZZIE LOU]

please stop bringing up these old posts...you were already answered on an earlier post