some fear about hiv still left !

[smurfy]

Dear Doctor,

Once again:I hope my english is good enough for understanding me ;-)

last time i posted a general question about the hiv-

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You are making too much of the supposed difference in advice about time to seroconversion ("window period") between North America and Europe. You can find plenty of American experts who will quote the sorts of figures you found in Europe, and plenty of Europeans who use figures like mine.

IT DOESN'T MATTER!  Let's say the chance you acquired HIV during the exposure that frightened you probably was 1 in 100,000; it certainly was no more risky than that.  If your 7 week test was "only" 90% reliable, the chance you have HIV--once that result was available--is 1 in a million.  If the test was 95% reliable, then your odds of having HIV are 1 in 2 million.  If it was 99% reliable, it's 1 in 10 million.  From a statistical standpoint, it really isn't much different; any rational person would be happy with the least optimistic estimate of 1 in a million.

You need to put this in perspective.  The chances you will die in the next week of a freak illness (other than HIV) or in some sort of accident are much greater than the chance you have HIV.  And for goodness' sake stop going on line to find alternative opinions that support your preconceived anxieties.  Get on with life and stop obsessing about this.  It is a waste of your time and energy.  (And mine, so I will have no other comments.)

HHH, MD

[moet]

My only comment is that one can never be sure about anyone else's activities/rendevous, so I wouldn't concern yourself with her one night stand 4 days prior etc...As long as you get yourself tested in an acceptable time period to put your self at ease, then move on. Souinds like 12 weeks is your comfort level, so go for that but sure you are ok!! Everything I've read about contacting HIV, she was more at risk than you!! Cheers

[john_B]

Hi smurfy. No i am in the UK and was tested in a UK GUM Clinic in my local hospital.

[smurfy]

hello john_b,

where are you coming from ? also from usa ?

well, as i mentioned before: the people here
in europe are very 'conservative' about the "windows period".
so i don't know what is wrong and what is right.

[john_B]

Hi smurfy, i know what you mean about the differance in testing window periods, however i had a similar anxiety to yours about hiv testing and when i went to be tested ( at 7 weeks ) i spoke to the doctor about testing at that stage and he told me that with modern testing a negative result at 7 weeks is " highly unlikely " to then turn positive. I then asked why the official advise is still 3 months and he told me that basically that related to earlier methods of testing that wasn't so sensitive but the advice has never been changed and it is basically a cover your ar*e option for the test providers. i am sure that the doc will reassure you more but i thought you may like to hear what my experiance was with testing. You will be fine.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I have no additional advice or interpretation since your previous thread.  As you say yourself, your fear is irrational.  You can rely on the negative HIV tests you have had.  But if you cannot make the rational part of your brain overcome the irrational part, if my reassurance is not sufficient, and if you will be further reassured by additional testing at 12 weeks (or 16 weeks, or 6 months, or whenever else you want), feel free to do it.

HHH, MD