Chance of not producing antibodies for HIV

[1worriedguy]

I am a 49 yr old male, not gay, no drug use.  10 years ago I think I was exposed to a hiv positive female, at which time we had normal intercourse.  10 months after exposure is when I found out that she was most likely hiv positive.  At the time of sex I had a small cut on my penis.  I went to the doctor and took a hiv test which came back negative.  For the next 6 months I was sick with worry so I went back to the doctor and took another hiv test which again came back negative (now 16 months after exposure).  This still bothers me and it is still on my mind all the time that perhaps I just don't produce antibodies.  While the hiv test showed negative both times, my complete blood count for WBC after 10 months was 4.49 then the next blood work which was 6 months later showed by wbc up to 8.05.  During the same time frame my lymphocytes on the first test were 33, the second test my lymphocytes had dropped to 25.  Would an increase in wbc and a decrease in lymphocytes be a concern?  This is really driving me crazy and the stress is probably killing my immune system.  About 3 years ago I began to have floaters in my eyes which has stayed at the same level.  Eye sight has not changed in the past 4 years, except some blurring when tired.  Over the past 6 years I have gained 40 pounds, which at 5'7" puts be at 185, a bit heavy.  No other major symptoms except stomach problems from time to time which may be from the stress.  Other than that I may have a spot of skin cancer.  Cancer is in my family history.  Do you think I should be concerned about being hiv positive?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, you shouldn't be concerned.  The current HIV tests are extraordinarily reliable.  Remember the entire country and the rest of the industrialized world rely on the same tests to keep the blood supply safe from HIV--and in the millions upon millions of treatments with transfusion or blood products in the past decade, nobody has acquired HIV.  None of your other symptoms suggest any problem of importance with your immune system or ability to produce antibodies.

Good luck and happy new year--  HHH, MD

[RobertY]

I'd talk with a good doctor about it.  I would be absolutely amazed that you have it and haven't produced any Ab against it after 10 years.  You would have to have no immune system.  HIV isn't that easy to catch, unlike herpes.  If you are so worried I'd have one more test done.  Chances are nil that it will be positive.  You better worry more about cancer if it runs in your family.  People live with HIV these days and die of old age, and the therapies keep getting better and better.  There are lots of money to be made with HIV drugs so everyone is trying to discover new ones.
But yes, I think you may be beyond the rational fear stage here.  Talk with a doctor about it, a really good one who deals with lots of people with aids he could tell you the odds. (nil)

[1worriedguy]

Doctor, understand that the 2 test I took were 10 years ago.  One 10 months after exposure, the other 16 months after.  Were the test 10 years ago as accurate as today's test?

[pandora9048]

Hi,
  not a doctor, but what i understand is the tests years ago, you needed to wait at least 3 months from possible exposure to get a reliable result.  I think the only difference is today's tests can tell a lot sooner.  Like I said, not a doc, so I could be wrong.
Pan

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

RobertY and pandora9048 are correct.  The tests available several years ago didn't become positive as quickly as today's tests, but your negative results are 100% reliable.

Good luck--  HHH, MD