Sob story/another test warranted?

[147258369]

So the sob story goes I had way too much to drink at a bachelor party I attended in the spring. We ended up at a strip club. I do not remember the end of the night, but I do remember a bill for $300 the next day and my friends telling me I got a lap dance in the "VIP" room for about half an hour. With that said, we all know the possiblity of sex acts, especailly in the "VIP" room, exist. Especially with the current news out about some strip club busts and activities that went on, my paranoia has kicked in. To be safe, 50 days after the "at-risk" behavior (~7 weeks), I took a Home Access Express (next day) HIV-1 Test. Results were negative. Can I rely on this test or should I be tested again at a later date before I have sex with my girlfriend?

Thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If you were so drunk that you had sex and had no memory of it, HIV is not your problem.  As far as the HIV risk is concerned however, your risk is very low because of the added effect of a number of factors.  those factors include that:

1.  Most lap dancers (and commercial sex workers) do not have HIV.
2.  It is unlikely you had sex
3.  If you had sex and if she had HIV, your risk of getting HIV is 1 infection per 1000 exposures, if the sex was unprotected.
4.  You have had a negative HIV test which, in the context of the exposure that you describe assures you that you do not have HIV from the exposure you describe.

You have nothing to worry about and do not need to worry about HIV from the exposure you describe.  This is not a reason to abstain from sex with your regular partner at this time.  EWH