window period delayed by aciclovir?

Dear Doctor,

I did a 4th generation combined Elisa test 7 weeks after my possible risk. It was negative and here in France they told me that it is officially conclusive after 6 weeks.

What makes me worried, is that 5 weeks before my test I took Acyclovir 400mg for 2 days (6 tablets in all) because my boyfriend probably had herpes. After 2 days I finished it because my gynecologist told me that I didn't have herpes and didn't need to take it.

Now my question is that is it possible that having taken acyclovir for 2 days can delay the window period and my 7 weeks result may be false negative?

Thank you very much.

[Vance2335]

No it would not delay anything.
In America we use the guidelines of 3 month antibody test as conclusive. So I would advise a test at 3 months.

[Chat10]

The 4th generation test also detects antigen pg24, that's why 6 weeks should be conclusive.
Do you think that taking acyclovir would anyhow delay it from 6 weeks to 12 weeks or it really does not have anything to do with it?

[Vance2335]

It has nothing to do with delaying anything. Only people who are under going chemyo, or taking anti-organ rejection drugs could be delayed.

Well I can only tell you what in America we use as a time table and it is something I would be in neglict if I did not say the 3 months. So you can go by our standards or by yours. But your acyclovir has nothing to due with delay.

[Chat10]

Thanks a lot Vance.

Are there also doctors answering on this forum? Ot is it somewhere else on the site?

[kumar007]

you need to post in the expert forum for that...u need to pay $ for that

[Chat10]

Hello again!!

I found this article on internet and now I am freaking out again: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8512412.stm

How do you understand it?

Doesn't it mean that due to acyclovir that I took 5 weeks before my last hiv test could have delayed the detectable antibodies and thus could have given me a false negative result?

Thank you!

[Teak]

Post-test discussion

The need for a repeat HIV test if still within the window period after a specific exposure should be discussed. Although fourth generation tests shorten the time from exposure to seroconversion a repeat test at three months is still recommended to definitively exclude HIV infection.

http://www.bhiva.org/documents/Guidelines/Testing/GlinesHIVTest08.pdf

[Chat10]

Teak, I know and I will do the 3 month test but while waiting for this, I just wanted to know if acyclovir can affect on the forming of hiv antibodies (to delay them)?

I found many info online, doctors say no on other discussion forums but after finding the article, I don't know what to believe.

[Teak]

No acyclovir will not delay antibody production. The acyclvir was completely out of your system by the time you took your test.

[Chat10]

Hello again!

It is awful, I was already more relaxed as I believed that acyclovir would not delay the antibodies.
But this morning I foung swollen glands in my armpits (bilateral). I showed them to the doctor and he told me that they were slightly swollen but nothing alarming. However, I'm getting very anxios again.

My risk was 10 weeks ago. I gave a blowjob to a guy who also ejaculated in my mouth. As fas as I know, I didn't have lesions in my mouth that time.

What do you guys think, how risky was it?
This happened in France and the guy in French also.

Thank you so much.

[kumar007]

nothing to worry about as whatever you are experiencing is not due to hiv..
and acyclovir do not delay antibody production..and you did not have a risk to begin with by giving oral sex...
you dont have hiv

[LIZZIE LOU]

you have been told repeatedly that your med would NOT affect the test.  your anxiety will not change that FACT.

as far as your risk and testing?  YOU HAD NO RISK

[Chat10]

Dear Kumar and Lizzie,

thank you for your answers. I really appreciate but I don't understand when you say I didn't have a risk. Isn't oral sex with ejaculation a risk?

Thank you.

[Teak]

NO.