28 day test result...Can I finally put this behind?

[anxietyx10]

Hello experts,

I have had a lot of anxiety since a possible exposure over a month ago and am hoping to put this behind me. Let me explain.

I am a male and had sex with another male of unknown HIV status. This included giving unprotected oral sex without ejaculation, and receiving  oral sex. We also had protected anal sex (I was receptive) however I wouldn't really say it was sex. He just attempted with a condom on and wasn't able to get it in (maybe 2 minutes of trying). The condom did not break, as I checked it after by filling it up with water.

I took an STD test 28 days after exposure. I was negative for all STDS, as well as HIV using the DUO test (4th generation). One of the reasons I was worried was that my wisdom tooth had broken through the gum a few weeks before the incident but was a bit sore that day (however there was no bleeding upon inspection in the morning) so I thought that might have increased the risk from oral sex.

Can I take this result as conclusive and move on with my life?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I'll be happy to comment and to assure you that you did not acquire HIV from the exposures you describe.  To begin with, You do not know that your partner had HIV and most persons, do not.  In addition, your attempted rectal sex was condom protected and condom-protected sex is safe sex.  Further, there has never been a known case of HIV acquired through receipt of oral sex from an infected partner.  Finally, while there are a handful of instances in which people may have gotten HIV through giving oral sex to an infected partner, this too is very, very unusual, occurring no more frequently that once in 10,000 exposures to INFECTED partners and probably less often than that.  

As far as your tests are concerned, your results are definitive. Indeed, the test you had was a DUO test and the results of these tests are definitive at 4 weeks following an exposure.  You can be confident that you did not get HIV, even in the unlikely circumstance that you were exposed. there is no need for further testing.  EWH

[anxietyx10]

Sorry and one final part to my question that I forgot, lol.

The result says HIV1/2 AG/Ab combo Screen: Non reactive. Final interpretation: No HIV p24 antigen and no HIV1/HIV2 antibodies detected. That is the duo/combination test right?

[anxietyx10]

Oh and one other thing. Im almost positive these not signs of ARS but I did experience a mild sore throat starting the day before my HIV test that lasted about 3 days. Both my feet also got some red bumps on them 5 weeks post exposure but im pretty sure it was nothing major.