Simple testing question

[mvmarried]

If you are only tested for HIV-1 (which I have been told is the standard in the US and all industrialized nations and the CDC doesn't recommend testing for HIV-2) do you think it is necessary to retest for HIV-2?  I am 100% confident in my HIV-1 test results but was curious if I am not covering all of my bases.  Getting tested was stressful enough the first time adn I am ready to just move on from all of this.

[meworried]

Origin of HIV 2 is Western Africa. In United States, less than a hundred infected persons out of about a million, are detected with HIV2 and all of them, invariably either were West African origin or have some relations with.

Since polulation of HIV2 is negligible in the United States, most of the tests developed here, address HIV1 exclusively. I heard that some of the Antibody tests reads AB's due to both types of virus, like MEIA common in my country which reports both HIV1 and HIV2 and its my personal experience also when I saw my test report. Probably antibodies are not very different. May be,,,,,,,,,,

Bottom Line ! If your HIV1 test is negative, you haven't been to Western Africa and you have not come into contact wiith any Western African, you are safe. Time for your Wooooooo Hoooooooooo

Be happy,

[TmnT]

I read somewhere that HIV-2 is only present in Africa, and that there's no chance you will get it in any developed nations.

[mvmarried]

anyone able to provide some insight?