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HIV - terrified of possible rare strain
Please - someone help me - either Dr. Jose Gonzales-Garcia or Dr. Sean Cummings
I had brief sexual encouter a few years ago. Did the normal HIV test that you get at a NHS GUM clinic - all OK...
However I've discovered to my absolute horror that there are types of HIV - HIV1 and HIV2, and those types have got subtypes which are apparently quite rare...
So I did the HIV Duo test recently. Actually I've had two done recently - one around feb and one done recently - both showed up negative.....
Will the HIV Duo test test for all types and subtypes of HIV? I'm assuming if I had HIV, I'd have antibodies by now. Do the rare strains of HIV produce antibodies which are detectable by the HIV Duo test?
Also can you please tell me what HTLV is? Apparently there is something called HTLV1 and HTLV2 as well? Can I get tested for this? Do I need to get tested for this? Please help me as the anxiety is killing me.....
I had brief sexual encouter a few years ago. Did the normal HIV test that you get at a NHS GUM clinic - all OK...
However I've discovered to my absolute horror that there are types of HIV - HIV1 and HIV2, and those types have got subtypes which are apparently quite rare...
So I did the HIV Duo test recently. Actually I've had two done recently - one around feb and one done recently - both showed up negative.....
Will the HIV Duo test test for all types and subtypes of HIV? I'm assuming if I had HIV, I'd have antibodies by now. Do the rare strains of HIV produce antibodies which are detectable by the HIV Duo test?
Also can you please tell me what HTLV is? Apparently there is something called HTLV1 and HTLV2 as well? Can I get tested for this? Do I need to get tested for this? Please help me as the anxiety is killing me.....
Thank You Vance - much appreciated.....
Doctor, would you agree as well that, if I caught a rare or very rare strain of HIV seven or eight years ago, that I'd have antibodies by now, and that by now it would show up on the HIV Duo test? Also, seven or eight years later, would I have symptoms as well ie. being very ill?
And I'm still worried about the HTLV1 and 2... Would you recommend getting tested for peace of mind?
Thanks in advance.... Very very worried about the whole thing - please help Doctor....
Doctor, would you agree as well that, if I caught a rare or very rare strain of HIV seven or eight years ago, that I'd have antibodies by now, and that by now it would show up on the HIV Duo test? Also, seven or eight years later, would I have symptoms as well ie. being very ill?
And I'm still worried about the HTLV1 and 2... Would you recommend getting tested for peace of mind?
Thanks in advance.... Very very worried about the whole thing - please help Doctor....
As I helped in the regular forum wanted to follow up here quickly.
Rare strains are in rural Africa, so unless your having sex in rural Africa like the Congo you don't have to worry and 7-8 years after getting a rare strain, you would test positive.
I think this is more of an issue with anxiety and not HIV. I would encourage you to seek a therapist.
Rare strains are in rural Africa, so unless your having sex in rural Africa like the Congo you don't have to worry and 7-8 years after getting a rare strain, you would test positive.
I think this is more of an issue with anxiety and not HIV. I would encourage you to seek a therapist.
Thank You Doctor....
If I possibly contracted the rare or very strain around 7 or 8 years ago, would I have antibodies to that strain by now, and would it show by now on the HIV Duo test? Also, I take it I'd be quite ill by now as well?
Finally is it worth me having a blood test for HTLV1 and 2, for peace of mind?
If I possibly contracted the rare or very strain around 7 or 8 years ago, would I have antibodies to that strain by now, and would it show by now on the HIV Duo test? Also, I take it I'd be quite ill by now as well?
Finally is it worth me having a blood test for HTLV1 and 2, for peace of mind?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Thank you very much for your post and welcome to our forum. Firstly I would like to reassure you. You do not need to worry about any of these issues. Your negative HIV test results are final and fully conclusive. The 4th generation HIV Duo tests detect HIV-1 and HIV-2, including all subtypes. No need to be concerned about the rare subtypes as they are rare, and would not come into consideration. Most virologists reckon that modern tests would also be capale of detecting the very rare strains. However because they are so rare, this has not yet been established.
HTLV is even rarer. HTLV means Human T-lymphotrophic Virus. It is a RNA retrovirus than can cause T-cell leukaemia, lymphoma and a demyelinating disease. There are two types, type 1, endemic in the Caribbean, Japan, South America and Africa; and type 2, found among native Americans and in Africa. Interestingly HIV was originally named HTLV-3 when discovered in 1984. This is no longer in use.
These viruses can be transmitted similarly to HIV, through unprotected penetration, breast feeding, blood transfusion and intravenous drug injections. They are extremly rare in the UK, mainly associated to intravenous drug users and among black Caribbeans. Only 699 cases were diagnosed between 2002 and 2009 in the UK, of which only 98 cases were found in 2009. These viruses are routinely screened for blood transfusions, and can easily checked with a blood test.
As you can see, I do not believe that you need to worry about it. My advice to you is to forget it and move on.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Thank you very much for your post and welcome to our forum. Firstly I would like to reassure you. You do not need to worry about any of these issues. Your negative HIV test results are final and fully conclusive. The 4th generation HIV Duo tests detect HIV-1 and HIV-2, including all subtypes. No need to be concerned about the rare subtypes as they are rare, and would not come into consideration. Most virologists reckon that modern tests would also be capale of detecting the very rare strains. However because they are so rare, this has not yet been established.
HTLV is even rarer. HTLV means Human T-lymphotrophic Virus. It is a RNA retrovirus than can cause T-cell leukaemia, lymphoma and a demyelinating disease. There are two types, type 1, endemic in the Caribbean, Japan, South America and Africa; and type 2, found among native Americans and in Africa. Interestingly HIV was originally named HTLV-3 when discovered in 1984. This is no longer in use.
These viruses can be transmitted similarly to HIV, through unprotected penetration, breast feeding, blood transfusion and intravenous drug injections. They are extremly rare in the UK, mainly associated to intravenous drug users and among black Caribbeans. Only 699 cases were diagnosed between 2002 and 2009 in the UK, of which only 98 cases were found in 2009. These viruses are routinely screened for blood transfusions, and can easily checked with a blood test.
As you can see, I do not believe that you need to worry about it. My advice to you is to forget it and move on.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Still really anxious and worried. I got married 3 years ago. Got one kid and another on the way. I am really really terrified I might have a rare strain of HIV that might have been missed by the Duo. I just need to know that the Duo picks up all the strains of HIV...
Also can someone please tell me what HTLV1 and 2 is? Never heard of it until yesterday.... Terrified I might have this as well.... Please help....
Also can someone please tell me what HTLV1 and 2 is? Never heard of it until yesterday.... Terrified I might have this as well.... Please help....
I should mention - a few years ago I was a bit of a rebel and did sleep around - most times I was careful - unfortunately a few times I wasn't.....
When I got tested years ago at the GUM clinic I thought that's it - I can move on. Now that I've discovered there's various strains of HIV, and also something called HTLV1 and 2, I'm really terrified - especially as now I'm married with kids....
Someone please help me...
When I got tested years ago at the GUM clinic I thought that's it - I can move on. Now that I've discovered there's various strains of HIV, and also something called HTLV1 and 2, I'm really terrified - especially as now I'm married with kids....
Someone please help me...
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