Should Girlfriend Test Again?

Hello Dr.

I had a question I hoped you might be able to resolve for me. I have been in a relationship for nearly 1.5 years with my girlfriend. She and I were both tested for HIV at the beginning of our relationship and the results were negative. I originally thought that it had been 4-5 months since she broke up with her boyfriend, but it turns out it was only 2 months. My question is this: should she test again since it was only 2 months since her last possible exposure (she dated him for 1.5 years and I don't think they used protection often or at all - I have not asked). Also, let me add these pieces of information: I recently tested for HIV again and it was negative (after having unprotected sex with her for the better part of a year) and her ex's fiancée has become pregnant (I believe hospitals check for HIV after pregnancy is detected).

Is it possible for him to have infected my girlfriend but not his fiancee, and in turn her not have infected me after such a long period of unprotected sex? Is her 2 month result reliable, or should she test again? Perhaps this sounds preposterous, but I do not like to leave any room for doubt (and she does not think its necessary to test again). In advance, thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  For better or worse, anything is possible an so there is a very, very small chance that your GF's ex infected her and that it was missed by her test if it was obtained at less than 8 weeks following her last exposure.  In such a situation, her likelyhood of infection however would be incredibly low.

If her testing was performed at any time 8 weeks or after her last exposure to him then her results are definitve an there is no need for further testing.  Thus if your dates are correct, and probably even if they are not, my tendency is to agree with your GF that no further testing is needed.  EWH

[OneQPlease]

Great, just to make it perfectly clear: as long as she tested after 8 weeks there is no reason to test again?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, you have repeated my response correctly.  EWH

[OneQPlease]

Is it even possible that my gf's ex's fiancee could become pregnant but not become infected with HIV?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Of course it is.  EWH

[OneQPlease]

I have determined that it is either EXACTLY 8 weeks or 3-4 days under. This is very vexing. Would 3-4 days make a huge difference? I am still confused about what to do.

[OneQPlease]

Actually, I should clarify that, I think it's either been 8-9 weeks, or 3-4 days under.

Also, I believe that her ex was not that sexually active. I was told that he only had 1-2 (possibly 3) sexual relationships after a negative HIV test (he and I are both foreigners and have to have one to work in this country) before he started dating what is my current GF. I believe he had no more than 4 sexual partners total (most or all of them long-term). Is it important to consider this kind of history?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

3-4 days will not make a difference.  I think it is time for you to move on from your concerns.  There is really very, very little chance the your GF could ahve had HIV that was missed.  

This could go one and on.  It's now time for this thread to end.  EWH