What am I supposed to think?

[NeedHelp0182]

9 weeks ago I had unprotected receptive anal sex with a HIV+ man.  He is not on medication.  

3-3.5 weeks later I started to develop a fever, thrush (diagnosed), mouth sores, sore throat, bruises, stomach issues.  I know everyone brushes aside symptoms, just wanted to say these were all 100% real and not made up.

Saw ID Dr. 5.5 weeks post infection, he dx my thrush and suspects acute HIV infection.  Orders tests.  Hiv1/2 antibody was negative and PCR RNA was non-detectable.  Cd4 count of 415 and CD4/CD8 ratio of .80.  Tells me to wait for 12 week mark and we will test everything again.

I took another ELISA at 8 weeks- Negative.

I still have thrush and stomach issues but the thrush is very minor at this point and nearly completely gone.

My questions:

How accurate is ELISA at 8 weeks?
Since I still have thrush, I could still be going through seroconversion?  Would this cause my ELISA tests to come up non-reactive?

Also, I was told that I shouldn't put too much weight into the PCR test being non-detectable when I took it.  I took it 5.5 weeks post-exposure, but what really matters is when you take it POST INFECTION.  Is this correct information?

If that was the case, I would have taken the PCR only about 17 days post-infection (when symptoms started), so it very easily could have been too early to detect antibodies.  Anyway, I know PCR test is not used for diagnostic purposes.

Thanks for help

[Teak]

Whatever.

[Chris208]

Im in a similar situation as you.   I think I was exposed about 9 weeks as well...My symptoms started about 4.5 weeks past exposure....I tested negative on a rapid test at 7.5 weeks....Because of my symptoms my ID Doc ordered a PCR test.  He said to me that it is not a diagnostic test but rather a test to monitor infection, but if the virus was in my body this test would pick it up at 3 weeks past exposure whether I had symptoms or not....So your negative PCR at 5.5 weeks would had picked up your infection if it was really there....This is what my ID doctor said to me.....

[NeedHelp0182]

How often does a negative Elisa at 8 weeks end up turning positive?

Since I still have thrush, could I still be going through seroconversion?  Could this cause my ELISA tests to come up non-reactive?

Also, I was told that I shouldn't put too much weight into the PCR test being non-detectable when I took it.  I took it 5.5 weeks post-exposure, but what really matters is when you take it POST INFECTION.  Is this correct information?

[LIZZIE LOU]

your negative antibody test at 8 weeks is an excellent indication of your status and highly unlikely to change at this point.  follow up at 3 months to get that final / conclusive result.