3 tests, 14 week symptoms

[scaredalil88]

Hi doc. I've now had 3 tests

1. Rapid oral swab at 4 weeks - negative
2. EIA HIV 1/2 blood test at 8 weeks - negative
3. Rapid oral swab at 11 weeks 6 days (83 days) - negative

At 14 weeks I came down with a sore throat and cough. The cough has persisted now for over a week. My new girlfriend is now sick with a sore throat and horse voice.

I waited until after my last rapid test at 83 days to sleep with her and now I'm afraid there is a slight possibility that I infected her. Please evaluate this situation. Thanks!

[scaredalil88]

K thank you Doc. We've been using condoms for vaginal sex but not for cunnlingness or oral sex performed on me. She has been bugging me to get rid of the condoms but I just wanted to make sure you thought it was ok to go unprotected at this point.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes I do, You are fine.  EWH

[scaredalil88]

*Thanks for the detailed response Doc.  So you believe my 3 tests (Blood/Swab) out to 83 days is definitive evidence against an HIV infection regardless the symptoms? And can I have unprotected sex with my girlfriend?  This will be all.

[scaredalil88]

Thanks for the detailed response dic. So you believe my 3 tests (blood/rapid) out to 83 days is definitive evidence and I can have unprotected sex with my girlfriend?  This will be all.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The traditional and most widely used tests for HIV are tests for antibodies to HIV which are available both as so-called "rapid" or point of care tests which can be done in the clinic and laboratory based antibody tests. For all practical purposes both of these types of test perform comparably and provide accurate information on the presence or absence of HIV infection in virtually everyone at 8 weeks following exposure.  The recommendations for testing at 3 and even 6 months are the result of two factors- data from older tests no longer used (you really do not need to worry about which generation of tests you were tested with, at this time virtually all tests are far more sensitive that they were even 2-3 years ago when the 3 month recommendation was made) and secondly, the fact that some, mostly governmental agencies which have to provide recommendations for virtually everyone without the sort of interactions such as those you get with your doctor or on personalized sites such as this one, feel the cannot "afford" to be wrong and therefore make recommendations and guidelines which leave most people unnecessarily nervous for 4-6 weeks longer than the 6-8 weeks it takes virtually everyone to develop HIV antibodies.  

HIV is not transmitted by kissing, no matter how much saliva is exchanged and whether or not your or your partner had sores in your mouth, gum disease or blood in the mouth.  

No change in my assessment or answer. EWH

[scaredalil88]

Last detail doc. Sorry for the updates but I just want to put it all outthere before your response. Another one of those white dots (maybe a swollen tastebud) showed up on the tip of my tongue today.