WHEN I TESTED

[DAVE3547]

I have been sexually active since 1991, I had my first hiv test in 2001 after a high risk exposure(homosexual, drug user)(approx 6 months after) it was negative. I told myself I would be careful from here on out, but in 2004 I slipped, one night with a not so high risk person. I tested at about 8-10 moths after, I can't quite remember, it was negative. I have been monogamous with hiv negative person since then, is the only chance of false negative on those tests if I TESTED INSIDE WINDOW PERIOD?

[JeanClaude]

If you are sure of your partner's status, you are CONCLUSIVELY NEGATIVE.

-JC-

[DAVE3547]

JC,
  I am absolutely postive of my partners staus thank goodness. I have been making myself crazy that one or both of those tests gave me false negatives, is that just an impossibility. The contact I had in 2001 is what is scaring me to death.

[JeanClaude]

You stated, you test NEGATIVE after the incident in 2004, therefore it is IMPOSSIBLE that you were infected in 2001. Put this behind you. If you need reassurance, get a RAPID test done . You can see you obvious NEGATIVE then and there, believe it and move on. You are HIV NEGATIVE.
-JC-

[DAVE3547]

JC
Thank you. I believed the paperwork, just didn't know risk of false negative, that is all. But you are stating that since I tested negative in 2004,and my last incident was at leat 8 months before then there is no way I am not fine, correct?So I have no need for further testing.

[DAVE3547]

ok. One last thing, stupid me decided to talk to a Dr. from another medical site and this is what he said:
"The majority of people turn seropositive by 6 months and almost ALL turn positive by 12 months."
I shouldn't have even gone THERE!!! So is this just junk, what he is saying. Wouldn't everyone serconvert by 8-10 MONTHS.I JUST NEED TO MOVE ON AND PUT THIS BEHIND ME.

[JeanClaude]

If you don't have a pre-existing autoimmune disorder, are NOT on chemotherapy or are NOT an Intravenous drug user, a NEGATIVE HIV Antibody test at 3 months IS INDEED CONCLUSIVE per CDC.

-JC-

[Teak]

I wouldn't go to that website again. He knows less about HIV than most of the people that come to this forum.

[DAVE3547]

JC,
You just freaked me out. I do have an autoimmune disorder. So what does that mean, would I have tested positive by 8-10 months?

[Teak]

What autoimmune disorder do you have?

[DAVE3547]

Since 2001 I have had autoimmune thyroid disease(really common,I guess) and RHEMATOID ARTHRITIS, I thought autoimmnune diseases casued false positives not false negatives. Teak, I am totally sick right now!!

[DAVE3547]

Teak,
Do I need to be worried about this. In have looked on The Body website and can find nothing that says it would be a false negative?

[Teak]

Your 3 month test would be conclusive.

[DAVE3547]

Teak,
  Thanks, I actually waited until 6 months, so I guess even better. Do you know why that was said, that pre existing autoimmune disease would alter a 3 month negative. i have to say it really scared me. I just want to be informed. Again, thanks.

[DAVE3547]

Teak,
Do you think he meant that it might take a little longer to serconvert if you have an autoimmune disease?Maybe I was reading it wrong. I really was more concerned with the 2001 event. I have found some horrible things out about this contact, and it really upset me.

[Teak]

You don't have an autoimmune disease that would require testing longer than 3 months.

[DAVE3547]

Thanks, can you tell me what they are? I contacted the CDC by email, who knows what they will tell me.What autoimmune diseases do you test out longer for , and would any of them be more than 11 months?I am justasking because my Doc was telling me that with autoimmune diseases you usually have more than one. He is testing me for lupus and fibro.Yup I am falling apart!!!

[nursegirl6572]

An immunosuppressed person that would need to test after 3 months would be for example a person who has had an organ transplant taking anti-rejection meds, a person on aggressive chemo, or a person with advanced cancer (ie leukemia) who basically has no immune system.  And even people in that category only need to test out to 6 months.  Considering that.....MANY many many medical professionals aren't even totally convinvced that even these types of scenarios truly cause delayed seroconversion.  It is just a conservative recommendation made to cover all possibilities.

Conditions like RA and other autoimmune diseases do not fall into this category.

There would never be a need to test past 6 months, and for 99.999% of the population, 3 months is totally conclusive.  You have nothing to worry about....it's time to put this behind you and move on.

[DAVE3547]

Nursegirl:
I will and thank you for your input, I have been stewing all night about this!! I actually called the high risk contact from 2001, stupid, but I did. He hasn't called me back which got my mind thinking my god he has hiv!!! I guess it doesn't matter one way or another because my 6 month was negative!!!! That autoimmune thing really had me going, I can't tell you how much you have CALMED ME! I found some great info. on The Body that said the same thing you are saying, it was helpful, too. What is this story someone told me about three healthcare workers testin neg. at 6 months and positive at 12, is that even true?