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Unclear about recent HIV test
Dear Dr. HHH,
About 4 weeks ago, I made an incredibly stupid decesion, and had unprotected sex with an "erotic maseuse" that I had seen a few times before for massages. Before the sex, I asked her if she had any STD's, she said no. I asked her when her last test was, and her answer was that she'd been tested about 2 months ago. I don't think she'd lie to me about her health status in this regard, but because of her profession, I believe that my skepticism isn't unwarranted. She also said that the only people who she's had unprotected sex with between those two months were me, her boyfriend, and another man.
Just to reassure myself, I went to my local doctor and had a general STD test done, roughly 4 weeks after our encounter. I asked him what HIV tests that he was going to do, and if they would be conclusive at my potential exposure "window period". The answers that I got from him were kind of ambiguous. Also, the man's english is not good, so I think he may have had trouble articulating exactly what his answers were.
Basically, he said that with any of these viruses, they have an incubation period of up to 12 weeks. So, I asked him again what tests he was going to do, specifically mentioning the ELISA antibody test and the p24 antigen test. His answer was that he was going to do the "across the board, baseline test". I got kind of frustrated at this point, and just let it go. He said that I shouldn't worry about having another test done if/when this test is negative unless I started showing some kind of sympom.
My questions to you are: What is my risk of exposure/contraction? (my encounter happened in central arkansas) How conclusive would my negative test results be? Should I bother taking another test?
About 4 weeks ago, I made an incredibly stupid decesion, and had unprotected sex with an "erotic maseuse" that I had seen a few times before for massages. Before the sex, I asked her if she had any STD's, she said no. I asked her when her last test was, and her answer was that she'd been tested about 2 months ago. I don't think she'd lie to me about her health status in this regard, but because of her profession, I believe that my skepticism isn't unwarranted. She also said that the only people who she's had unprotected sex with between those two months were me, her boyfriend, and another man.
Just to reassure myself, I went to my local doctor and had a general STD test done, roughly 4 weeks after our encounter. I asked him what HIV tests that he was going to do, and if they would be conclusive at my potential exposure "window period". The answers that I got from him were kind of ambiguous. Also, the man's english is not good, so I think he may have had trouble articulating exactly what his answers were.
Basically, he said that with any of these viruses, they have an incubation period of up to 12 weeks. So, I asked him again what tests he was going to do, specifically mentioning the ELISA antibody test and the p24 antigen test. His answer was that he was going to do the "across the board, baseline test". I got kind of frustrated at this point, and just let it go. He said that I shouldn't worry about having another test done if/when this test is negative unless I started showing some kind of sympom.
My questions to you are: What is my risk of exposure/contraction? (my encounter happened in central arkansas) How conclusive would my negative test results be? Should I bother taking another test?
There are no tests marketed or sold that will give a conclusive negative test earlier than 3 three months post exposure.
But of course the way to settle all this is to have an HIV test. Many (most?) NHS GUM clinics, and private HIV/STD clinics (e.g., Freedom Health, in London) routinely do the combo test for both HIV antibody and p24 antigen. This test is 100% reliable when done 4 weeks or more after exposure.
^ Quote from Dr. HHH
This is why I'm inquiring as to which test(s) may have actually been done, and for him to hopefully tell me what my doctor could not articulate
^ Quote from Dr. HHH
This is why I'm inquiring as to which test(s) may have actually been done, and for him to hopefully tell me what my doctor could not articulate
Look dude, I did go to the doctor - you've given your .02 here, and I appreciate your input. I'm looking for clarification on what an M.D. told me above all else.
Ok,
I feel as if I'm about to have an anxiety attack. I would really appreciate a quick response from the M.D. ASAP!
I feel as if I'm about to have an anxiety attack. I would really appreciate a quick response from the M.D. ASAP!
To obtain a conclusive negative test with a 4th generation is 3 months post exposure. Early detection and conclusive negative are not the same.
Ok, so wouldn't that explain why 4th generation tests that simultaneously test for antibodies and the actual virus particals itself list a waiting period of less than 28 days?
The p24 antigen test identifies actual HIV viral particles in blood (p24 is a protein specific for HIV). However, the p24 antigen test is generally only positive from about one week to 3 - 4 weeks after infection with HIV. The p24 protein cannot be detected until about a week after infection with HIV, because it generally takes that long for the virus to become established and multiply to sufficient numbers that they can be detected. The p24 antigens then become undetectable again after sufficient antibodies to HIV have been produced, because they bind to the P-24 protein and eliminate it from the blood. Once antibodies are produced, the p24 test will register negative even in people who are infected with HIV. Of course, at that point the regular HIV antibody test will then be positive.
The p24 antigen test has very limited value in diagnosing HIV infection. It has been used in HIV research and, since 1996, has been used as an additional screening test in blood banks to help reduce the window period and reduce the possibility of HIV infected blood being used in transfusions.
Most people will not benefit from having a p24 antigen test.
The p24 antigen test has very limited value in diagnosing HIV infection. It has been used in HIV research and, since 1996, has been used as an additional screening test in blood banks to help reduce the window period and reduce the possibility of HIV infected blood being used in transfusions.
Most people will not benefit from having a p24 antigen test.
Why did the doctor tell me that I don't need to worry about having another test if/when this test comes back negative?
This is all part of my question here - I'm very confused because I seem to be getting contradictory information from the various sources of the internet and the Dr.
This is all part of my question here - I'm very confused because I seem to be getting contradictory information from the various sources of the internet and the Dr.
P24 tests are never conclusive. No a 4th generation test will not give you a conclusive test result that early.
The p24 antigen test is considered conclusive at 2-4 weeks, my question isn't if an antibody test is conclusive at 4 weeks - my question is about what my risk of exposure is, and how likely that "across the board, baseline" means that the doctor did the 4th generation antigen/antibody test, that my results will be conclusive.
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