HIV AG/AB + INSTI detection - nervous like hell

[Peter_76]

Hello doctors, first off all I have to say thank YOU for the job you are doing here. Second, excuse my english skills. My problem, which is making me very anxious and nervous is, that I had unprotected vaginal exposure with a woman with unknown HIV status. So 22 days after this exposure I went to the labratory for HIV 1,2 Agp24/Ab test using chemiluminiscence detection, the result was negative with marker 0,13. Than 33 days after exposure i tested myself with INSTI test - also came out negative. Can you just tell me if this results are somehow reliable? For sure I will go for another test after 8 weeks, but I am so anxious, still searching symptoms on my body. Thank you for the answer. Greg

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  The exposure you describe was low risk- you do not know that your partner had HIV and it is statistically unlikely that she did. Even if she did, infection following a single unprotected exposure is very, very rare.  I would not worry.  Your test results make it even less likely that you acquired HIV- while there are not precise statistics available at 22 days the combination DUO test you had would detect most infections and at 33 days the INSTI test, which detects only antibodies would detect about 90% of recent infections.  Between the low risk for infection from the single exposure you describe and your test results, I am confident that you did not get HIV.  A repeat INSTI or other antibody test at 8 weeks however will be entirely definitive..

I hope this comment is helpful to you. EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your tests prove you did not get HIV. There is no need for further testing related to the encounter you described.  EWH

[Peter_76]

Dear Dr., so I made another two tests (INSTI) at 56 and 57 days post exposure and both were negative. Is there a need for future testing (my plan is to have another 6 months p.e.). Wish you a nice day. Best regards Greg

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm glad I could help. EWH

[Peter_76]

Thank you very much for the answer Dr. For sure it is helpfull. Wish you all the  best in new year and once more thanks for your work here.