hiv negative at 5 weeks , ars after 7 weeks?

[gruff]

i have been exposed to several sexual contact with a few different sex workers. all of this last happened around 7 weeks ago. i have performed protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral sex. thus i have performed cunninglingus on the last sexual contact and no sex since then. i have been under stress for 3 weeks now trying to figure out whether i have hiv or not. i have taken 2 hiv test thru oraquick at 5 weeks mark and turned out to be negative.

i have sore throat at the past 3 weeks. i thought it was caused by the stress and not eating and sleeping properly. it went off after a week. i found thin white coated stuff on my tongue( more on back of tongue ) and i feel fatigue for the past 2 weeks. then sore throat came back soon after. but it felt worse last 4 days. i wake up every morning feeling my throat is pain. i feel that my throat has mucus but it seems to be stuck there. i have no flue or fever. Just fatigue. i have also tested negative for strep and mono.

-Are this sympthoms of ARS ?

-is 5 weeks enough for negative conclusive test for hiv ?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your story is filled with evidence against ARS.  The symptoms of ARS do not start later than 2-3 weeks (typically 1-2 weeks) after exposure.  ARS almost always causes fever.  Your exposures were low (vaginal sex) to zero risk (cunnilingus).  Although 5 weeks is not long enough to be definitive, 2 negative HIV tests through 5 weeks is powerful evidence against HIV infection.  Many, many things cause the identical symptoms as ARS, which is why I have repeatedly said that symptoms NEVER are a reliable indicator of HIV infection; they are only a clue, usually a weak one.

Need I go on?  Totalling up the odds, it is extremely unlikely your symptoms are due to HIV.  However, nobody can be absolutely certain until tested 6-8 weeks (some say 3 months) after exposure.  (For more discussion, search the threads for "time to positive HIV test".)  In the meantime you shouldn't be losing any sleep over this.  But of course see a health care provider if your symptoms continue.

Good luck--  hHH, MD

[gruff]

it is an elisa test. followed by a wb. dr, thank you for your replies. what are my possibilities of catching hiv from having sex with sex workers? should i rest easily ?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No laboratory uses WB as the primary HIV blood test.  It will be an ELISA, followed by WB confirmation if the ELISA is positive.  Either you spoke with someone who doesn't actually know what test their lab does, or you misunderstood each other.

HHH, MD

[Imdumb]

Besides what the doctor said, you had protected sex so unless the condom broke or came off, your risk was zero.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The question is irrelevant to your problem, since you don't have ARS.  But the symptoms typically last 3-6 weeks.

HHH, MD

[gruff]

thans for your reply. i have went to planned parenthood to get a hiv test. they were using western blot test for the hiv. is this test reliable ? esp at 5 weeks an 8 weeks   ?

[gruff]

Dr HHH thank you very much for your kind reply.

my last question would be how long does ARS symptoms last ? one week, 2 weeks ?

thanks