Reliability of duo tests after a high risk exposure with a HIV+ person

[worriedluciano]

Hi,

I am a gay man from Sydney and I had a very brief anal unprotected intercourse (I was bottoming) with a man who I later found out to be HIV+.

Since this exposure, I had 4 HIV (ab/ag) tests at the following intervals:

20 days - negative
8 weeks - negative
11.5 weeks (80 days) - negative
177 days - negative

Could I take these tests as conclusive and move on with my life?

Thanks.

[Need2knoww]

I find it so disgusting to know that some infected people are so evil to do that!

[worriedluciano]

Thank you. I'll move on!

[JohnsonNY69]

You dont have hiv . No furthur testing required..

[JohnsonNY69]

The combo antigen/antibody tests work well together because when a person is first infected, the body does not produce enough antibodies that can be detected by a test until around 28 days. However, within the 21-28 day period, the virus produces the p24 antigen in high enough levels that can be detected by the antigen portion of the combo test. The antigen levels slowly fade as the virus establishes itself in the body. As the antigen levels fade, the antigen portion of the combo test becomes less accurate. As the antigen levels are decreasing, the body starts to produce antibodies in response to the virus. These antibodies are what the antibody test looks for.

[worriedluciano]

Thank you

[RubyWitch]

You do NOT need to test for a year.

Your questions and concerns have been asked and answered. Anyone else responding to your post is going to give you the same answer.

As Vance, our community leader, has told you.......you do NOT have HIV!  

[Vance2335]

You don't have HIV, believe your tests.

[worriedluciano]

I'd really appreciate if other experienced counsellors could advise as I believe this is the riskier sexual risk when it comes to HIV.

[worriedluciano]

Shouldn't I be doing tests up to 1 year after this exposure?

[worriedluciano]

Thanks for your comments.

Yes, my tests were:

20 days - Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hep B and C, Syphilis and HIV

8 weeks - Syphilis and HIV

80 days - Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hep B and C, Syphilis and HIV

177 days -  Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hep B and C, Syphilis and HIV

All negative at those times.

[RubyWitch]

You made a bad decision and you dodged a bullet. Let it go but learn from it.

All those test prove beyond a shadow of a doubt you are negative.

Most GP's are not terribly knowledgeable about HIV or STD's. If you are really anxious about this, you could go to a clinic and they will be happy to offer you some counseling.
I think that would help you a lot.
Have you been checked for STD's? I think you'd be wise to do that.

You're fine and with time the anxiety will fade. Just be safe from now on, OK? Then you'll never have to go through this again.
Be well and safe
RubyWitch

[worriedluciano]

I know how stupid I was.

It's been very hard to overcome the anxiety and depression over this incident.

I read numerous posts from the doctors and from this forum related to tests and window periods but I still cannot believe that I am negative.

I'd never seen a specialist, only a GP (who prescribed the tests) and he did not seem to have much knowledge about HIV and other STIs. That's the feeling I got from him.

I have not had any other exposures since this one and I'll still cannot believe my test results :(

[RubyWitch]

Yes.

PLEASE.............always use a condom!