Why doesn't my doctor want to test me at three months?

[pdeez]

Hey doc,

first of all I want to thank you for taking the time to aleviate our anxiety and worries. Well here is my story.. I had unprotected sex with a 19 yr old girl I am a 24 year old male. This happened in late march around the 25 of 2009. It happened twice the same week and also about 4 times in April.. The last time was around the third week of april around the 23rd... I had an antibody test at three weeks post exposure which came back negative and later a 6-7 week that also came back negative this test where conducted at kaiser permanente and I don't
knw wat generation of test they used... Now I wanted to schedule a three month test but my doctor refused and arranged a sixth month test because according to him only then test are accurate and a six  
week is to soon as well a a three month... The girl claimed to be clean and told me that I was her second partner.. But I don't knw to believe her... I still want to make sure... Oh and may add I had a cold with a soar throat runnynose and sneezing at about 7-8 weeks since last episode . Now my questions are the following?

Can I trust my 6 week result?
Is my dr correct about 6 month window? He is not a specialist just a family practice dr.
I thought it was three months? I'm so confused.
Would u knw what generation of ELISA does kaiser use?
Why doesn't dr want retest me at the 12 marker.??? I'm so scared of being infected i just don't want this to be in control of my life... What are the chances of 6 week negative becoming positive? Also the sux week negative was 10 weeks after the first few episodes... Please help!!! I am ver very concerened ur reply will give me strenght to get through the next few weeks...

Thanks again.
  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the HIV forum.

Your doctor is being unusually conservative.  The chance your partner had HIV is almost zero, and even if she had it, the chance of transmission from just a few sexual encounters is very low.  From a risk assessment perspective, you probably didn't need to be tested at all.  In any case, the modern HIV antibody tests in use these days are just about always positive by 6-8 weeks, and our advice on this forum is that in most low- or average-risk situations (like yours), no testing is needed beyond 6-8 weeks.  I can't say what generation test your Kaiser facility uses, but it's surely 2nd if not 3rd generation, so no problem there.  Although some HIV experts continue to advise 3 months, I am unaware of any who say testing is necessary 6 months after exposure.

Bottom line:  Don't let this bother you so much.  If you remain concerned about it, call your doctor and discuss it with him.  But there is no chance you have HIV.

Regards--  HHH, MD

[pdeez]

So u recommend no further testing? I have a rapid test scheduled next week.. Should I trust my results? Also is it true that nit being circumsized carries an increased risk? Sorry I'm just so worried.. I haven't felt well since my dr told me that a six week antibody test is useless....thank you for you response..

I appreciate it greatly.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You are re-asking the same questions with different words.  You should trust your results; you did not catch HIV.  Being uncircumcised increases the risk, but only slightly; and you have to be exposed in the first place.  Probably you're not feeling well because of the psychological effect of all this. Discuss it with your doctor.

I won't have any furhter comments.

[pdeez]

Thanks doc...

I'll trust my results.. Thank u for ur time.... And yeah the psychological effects can take a toll on a person... I have learned a huge lesson from all of this... Use condoms always!!!!

Happy fourth!!

[pdeez]

Ok,

So i had a 76 day post possible exposure rapid test done ( finger ) at the public health office. It was negative. NOw i am wondering if i can completely rely on this result i know that 84 day is conslusive since it is three month from the time of possible exposure. Can i rely on this result. What are the possiblities of this result becoming a positive. I forgot to ask the nurse is the rapid test detects both HIV 1 and HIV 2 antibodies. Please this will be my last post i promise.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You may not keep returning with every anxiety-provoked additional quesiton that comes to mind.  Probably the test covers HIV-2, but that virus is too rare to worry about.

Any more of this and the entire thread will be deleted without furhter comment.