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Should I be worried about HIV exposure? please help!!!
Hello,
Sorry to bother. I have several questions: My last exposure was on May 25th. My first exposure was on May 4th both with my bf of nearly one year. He was married but divorced several years ago with no other occurences. We met and started dating, we have had protected sex but recently started having unprotected. His last test (according to him) was Aug. of last year which was negative. A few weeks after having unprotected sex (no sem. ejac./poss. pre-ejac) I began having sore throat, and diarrhea which lasted one day, and rash on chest, stomach and arms (which I attributed to sensitive skin). My last test was this week which neg. Should I be worried? Your response would really rest my conscience and soul in this matter until July when I can take the 6 wk. test. This has been very upsetting to me as I am at my wits end. Thanks in advance.
Sorry to bother. I have several questions: My last exposure was on May 25th. My first exposure was on May 4th both with my bf of nearly one year. He was married but divorced several years ago with no other occurences. We met and started dating, we have had protected sex but recently started having unprotected. His last test (according to him) was Aug. of last year which was negative. A few weeks after having unprotected sex (no sem. ejac./poss. pre-ejac) I began having sore throat, and diarrhea which lasted one day, and rash on chest, stomach and arms (which I attributed to sensitive skin). My last test was this week which neg. Should I be worried? Your response would really rest my conscience and soul in this matter until July when I can take the 6 wk. test. This has been very upsetting to me as I am at my wits end. Thanks in advance.
No, I am truly looking for a facility who utilizes the 3rd & 4th generation test. I have contacted both my physician and CDC for recommendations and they did not know who to contact. I am retesting in at the 6th &12th week mark.
You're wating someone here to say that you don't have to test anymore, that your result is conclusive. We stick with the OFFICIAL guidelines of 3 months here. You have to make the decision for yourself whether or not you are satisfied at this point, or if you should test again at 3 months. Our advice won't change...3 months is conclusive.
You would still have to wait till 3 months to obtain a conclusive negative test result.
May I ask one more question: I am currently at my 4 1/2 weeks post eposure. I did have a test a week ago which was neg. I do not know where to go to get a 3rd & 4th generation test. The CDC do not have a listing for these centers and the lab I go to only have 1/0/2 antibody. What can I do, sit and wait or try to find a lab that will utilize this test. The wait is truly wearing me down.
Thank you for comments: Based on the CDC posting. Should I test in 6 weeks?
In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results
In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results
All i can say, is I am pretty confident that when people go through ARS (about 50%) they WILL test positive during that time frame..in which you did test. That's a good sign. 3 months is standard protocol to say for people that may have compromised immune systems or other mitigating factors. Your odds are astronomically in your favor that you are indeed negative. This final test will be for peace of mind only. You will be fine.
Thank you, this has truly helped.
No to both of your questions. According to my bf, he states that he had test in Aug. and it was negative, and he has had no other partners.
I'm not sure if I can rule out ARS. According to the forum from the physician on MedHelp, i have sl. sore throat (not severe), skin rash (but not over body), cold sores, but no fever. What is concerning me out is that I have never had anything like this at the same time. My doc literally told me to come back in 3 months and was clueless about hiv, and told me to make an appt. with an infectious disease doc.
No to both of your questions. According to my bf, he states that he had test in Aug. and it was negative, and he has had no other partners.
I'm not sure if I can rule out ARS. According to the forum from the physician on MedHelp, i have sl. sore throat (not severe), skin rash (but not over body), cold sores, but no fever. What is concerning me out is that I have never had anything like this at the same time. My doc literally told me to come back in 3 months and was clueless about hiv, and told me to make an appt. with an infectious disease doc.
Is your partner an IV drug user? Do you think he has had unprotected sex with men?
If the answer is no to these questions, then I would probably rest easy on the fact it is a low-risk partner you are having sex with. Look at the demographics in your area for HIV. It's probably very low.
A four week test is around 90% accurate. A 3 week test is roughly 75% accurate. I think your main concern is ARS. IF you had ARS and then took the test you WOULD test positive (teak can correct me if I am wrong). So with your negative test at 3 weeks (75% test by this time) and the fact that you can completely rule out ARS as that is when the antibodies are being produced the most (I think), you can pretty much rest easy and then take a test at 12 weeks for a definitive. Personally, based on my exposures, I will test at 4 weeks because 90% accurate is sufficient for me. Remember to calculate your odds. The chance he had HIV is about 1/250. A single exposure to an INFECTED person is 1/500 for a female (I think). 1/250x1/500 gives you a probability of infection per exposure. The fact he is likely negative coupled with your 3 weeks result means you most likely are fine.
If the answer is no to these questions, then I would probably rest easy on the fact it is a low-risk partner you are having sex with. Look at the demographics in your area for HIV. It's probably very low.
A four week test is around 90% accurate. A 3 week test is roughly 75% accurate. I think your main concern is ARS. IF you had ARS and then took the test you WOULD test positive (teak can correct me if I am wrong). So with your negative test at 3 weeks (75% test by this time) and the fact that you can completely rule out ARS as that is when the antibodies are being produced the most (I think), you can pretty much rest easy and then take a test at 12 weeks for a definitive. Personally, based on my exposures, I will test at 4 weeks because 90% accurate is sufficient for me. Remember to calculate your odds. The chance he had HIV is about 1/250. A single exposure to an INFECTED person is 1/500 for a female (I think). 1/250x1/500 gives you a probability of infection per exposure. The fact he is likely negative coupled with your 3 weeks result means you most likely are fine.
Are recurring cold sores a common thread of ARS? This is based on the information I sent earlier that you wanted me to post in the previous thread.
http://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/Resources/pmtct-care/docs/TM/Module_6TM.pdf
Page 11
#4
In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results
Page 11
#4
In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results
Is there an window period that I could pin point? I know that 3 months is the standard but what is the testing window. Please give me some indication. What ARS symptoms should I look for? Are the symptoms I mentioned ARS related. I have talked to my physician who is truly clueless and is not well knowledgable in these matters. I have contacted the CDC and they are the standard answers. Would 6 weeks give me some accuracy?
Do these sound like ARS symptoms? I just do not know what to do at this time but understand that I must have another test at 3 months post exposure.
Do these sound like possible exposures to hiv? I have done everything my doc has stated and now its a waiting game. I apologize for the last note, I forgot to put it in my original post. Would a 6 wk be pretty conclusive?
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