Testing

[tricky34]

Hello Doctor thankyou for your time, one very drunk night just over 12 weeks ago i had unprotected oral sex and very brief viginal penertration (no more than twice) iv known the girl for about two years. Both white british hetrosexuals. A couple of days after the encounter i started getting a few wierd pains in my chest and then seemed to move over to my lower right ribs, i then developed light stools and tiredness which seem to of returned to normal, and for the past few weeks have been feeling as if i have a lump in my throat not to sure but i think that could stress related.
I tested negative for hiv at 5 weeks and also for other common stds, and i tested negative at 9 weeks 3 days. Yesturday i had my twelve week which i get the results back on monday. Do you believe i have anthing to worry about, is my nine week pretty conclusive?
Thankyou for your time

[sleepless1009]

hey doc sorry to jump in.  how come you never suggest getting a pcr test at the 28 day mark to relieve a lot of stress for some people

[tricky34]

Hello Dr thank you for your reply the other day my results where negative like you said.

Take care.

[sleepless1009]

last question i promise.  Would a negative result on a PCR after 3 weeks just as reliable as a 3 month anitbody test?  Thanks for everything you do.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Because for most worried-well people who ask typical almost-zero-risk questions on this forum, the statistical likelihood is greater that a PCR would be false positive than the chance it would pick up HIV.  Anyway, by 4 weeks after a new HIV infection the antibody test usually is positive.  If there is value in PCR, it is primarily before 3 weeks and in people at substantial risk of infection.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The only book I wrote is intended for health professionals, not persons looking for prevention advice (McGraw-Hill, "Color Atlas and Synopsis of Sexually Transmitted Diseases").  But anybody can purchase it, e.g. at Amazon.com, or any commercial book store can order it.

[alienshadow]

Where can your books be purchased at i would like to buy one

[tricky34]

Thankyou for your reply the work you do here really helps towards putting my mind at rest, I feel i have got myself into a rut and need to pull myself out.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You describe a low risk partner and a low risk exposure.  Your symptoms don't even hint at HIV.  Your negative HIV tests at 5 and 9 weeks prove you weren't infected.  You didn't need the 12 week test and you can be sure it also will be negative.

Good luck--- HHH, MD