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Extremely worried, should I take a HIV test?

Hello Doctor,
I posted a question a few weeks ago about possible exposure to HIV which Dr Hook replied to and I found his advice very helpful. However I didn't give the full facts so I thought I would ask again about my possible HIV risk and whether I should take a test. About 4 weeks ago I was sexually abused by this guy who I had met online, he performed oral sex on me and then forced himself on me, I felt something enter me for a few moments, not sure whether it was his fingers or his penis because I was very traumatised by the whole experience. I am now worried sick about possible HIV transmission. Would it be advisable for me to take a HIV test?
Many thanks.
4 Responses
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300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the Forum.  Let me tell you how sorry I am to hear of your assault.  While this does not change the biology of your exposure, for many persons it does change the clinical approach.  Our threshold for testing tends to be lower for victims of sexual assault than for persons exposed to new partners for other reasons.  Further, the psychological trauma associated with assault may be ameliorated by knowledge that you were not infected.  For this reason, I think that testing is a good idea.  At this time 4 weeks after your assault, a negative HIV test would be strong (but not quite definitive) evidence that you were not infected with HIV in your assault.  A standard HIV antibody test at this time would detect over 90% of recent HIV infections.  Repeat testing at 8 weeks after exposure would completely rule out the possibility of infection.

I hope this comment is helpful to you.  EWH
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Thank you very much for the information you provided doctor.
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The risk of any single exposure is quite low.  I would estimate your mathematical chance of infection as being far less that 1 10,000. EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you very much doctor for your helpful comments. I have one last question for you. I have already been tested for all the other STI's and they have come back negative, so would there be less of a chance that I have been infected with HIV?  
Helpful - 0

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