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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
hiv exposure/antibody testing
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
This forum is limited to prevention of HIV and to safe sex in general. If you believe you might have been exposed to HIV and want help to judge your risk, would like advice about HIV testing, or have questions about the effectiveness of condoms or the risks associated with specific sexual practices, this is the site for you.
IMPORTANT
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
No questions will be accepted on the treatment of HIV/AIDS or its complications, viral load, and similar topics. If you have questions about a specific STD other than HIV/AIDS, please visit the STD Forum. Questions that do not pertain to the above topics will be removed from the forum.
If you have not done so, please review other threads in our archives for questions similar to yours and Dr. Handsfield's replies. Questions that duplicate other frequent ones, for which abundant replies exist, and that have little educational value for other forum users, will be DELETED WITHOUT RESPONSE. YOUR PAYMENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED. The most common examples of such questions are those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom- protected intercourse hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection.
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hiv exposure/antibody testing
by libra1974, Oct 08, 2008 08:05PM
Hi, I had a few occasions in June my bf and I had sex with no condom for a few minutes each of the three times different occasions then continued our sex with the condom no ejaculation from him but once I did. I am 98% sure the beginning of july we used condoms all the way and hardly any sex that month.The end of July I had a uti took antibiotics for it, I had red raised blisters/sores on tops of hands two different times lasting a few days each, constricting feeling around throat, white pasty coating on tongue lasted 8 mins, very dry mouth, thirsty for two weeks, heartbeat fast then wanting to lay down, sore arm muscles, constipated, loss appetite, troubles sleeping, night sweats by sept 16 only a few days, bitter taste in my mouth, some swollen glands, mild headaches, pressure/pain by sinuses, weird tingly feelings going up past my temple region. A cough with little phlem coming up and mucous that was crusty like scabs inside my nose that hurt. Doc sept 2 noticed fluid in left ear, strep test neg, said viral... doc in later sept diag..me with sinuitis rhinitis...difficulty breathing one night head over steaming pot of water, nasal sprays used and claritin... How high is the exposure for hiv ?From the time I might be exposed to hiv to the time symptoms start is it within reason or late? Or are the symptoms I described could it be hiv? From when I was tested to possibly exposed in june is the test good enough? How accurate is the elisa test for antibodys and how early can elisa test for antibodys? Thanks for your time..
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Oct 08, 2008 09:31PM
, Oct 08, 2008 09:31PM
Hi. Can you tell me if you are male or female and about the sites of exposure when you had sex. It will help me to clarify where you stand in terms of risk, etc.
Even before you provide me with this information however, let me make a few generic comments. First and foremost, please realize that transmission of HIV, STDs and, if you are female, pregnancy can occur without ejaculation. To start to have sex and then put a condom on once you have already had penetration is not a good idea and defeats the protection offered by condoms.
Second, regarding the reliability of HIV tests, it sounds as though you are at least 8 weeks since last exposure and perhaps close to 10 or 12. At 8 weeks following last exposure, blood tests and other ELISAs for HIV will detect between 98 and 99% of infections. thus a test result at 8 weeks is highly but not quite perfectly reliable. The last 1-2% of positive tests are picked up between weeks 8 and 12.
Third. If you really are interested in safe sex and you will be with your BF again, why not both get tested together. That way you will each be able to continue the relationship without doubts as to each other's infection status.
Finally, it is hard to me to put all of your symptoms together to venture what is going on. The blisters and skin rash sound almost like some sort of allergic reaction. The other symptoms are really non-specific and do not particularly raise any concern about HIV or STD. Hope this helps. EWH
Even before you provide me with this information however, let me make a few generic comments. First and foremost, please realize that transmission of HIV, STDs and, if you are female, pregnancy can occur without ejaculation. To start to have sex and then put a condom on once you have already had penetration is not a good idea and defeats the protection offered by condoms.
Second, regarding the reliability of HIV tests, it sounds as though you are at least 8 weeks since last exposure and perhaps close to 10 or 12. At 8 weeks following last exposure, blood tests and other ELISAs for HIV will detect between 98 and 99% of infections. thus a test result at 8 weeks is highly but not quite perfectly reliable. The last 1-2% of positive tests are picked up between weeks 8 and 12.
Third. If you really are interested in safe sex and you will be with your BF again, why not both get tested together. That way you will each be able to continue the relationship without doubts as to each other's infection status.
Finally, it is hard to me to put all of your symptoms together to venture what is going on. The blisters and skin rash sound almost like some sort of allergic reaction. The other symptoms are really non-specific and do not particularly raise any concern about HIV or STD. Hope this helps. EWH
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thanks libra1974.
thanks