Aa
HIV type 2
Dr.Handsfiled,
I had high risk exposure 2 years ago, my partner is from India where HIV 2 is prevalent. My antibody test icma and hiv 1/2 eia negative. I also had hiv 2 dna/rna pcr from quest negative. But the lower limit of detection is 500 copies. I heard hiv type2 replicates slowly.
1) Why are tests for type2 very poor in USA as I know dna pcr for type1 has 10 copies of lower limit?
2) someone who was in relationship,unprotected sex and developed symptoms, antibody and pcr tests negative, can i be sure that i do not need anymore testing? Is there possibility that my body did nto develop antibodies for type 2 and pcr is false negative.
Thank you
I had high risk exposure 2 years ago, my partner is from India where HIV 2 is prevalent. My antibody test icma and hiv 1/2 eia negative. I also had hiv 2 dna/rna pcr from quest negative. But the lower limit of detection is 500 copies. I heard hiv type2 replicates slowly.
1) Why are tests for type2 very poor in USA as I know dna pcr for type1 has 10 copies of lower limit?
2) someone who was in relationship,unprotected sex and developed symptoms, antibody and pcr tests negative, can i be sure that i do not need anymore testing? Is there possibility that my body did nto develop antibodies for type 2 and pcr is false negative.
Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question. FYI, it is only by chance I am responding; Dr. Hook and I take questions at random, without regard to specific requests.
My understanding although HIV-2 is more common in India than in most countries outside western Africa, it is still quite infrequent there. To your specifc questions:
1) I don't know that HIV-2 testing is any less precise or sophisticated than elsewhere in the world. In any case, it is rare for anyone to have untreated HIV of either type and have viral load counts under 500. However, I am not familiar with specific tests produced by different companies or in different countries.
2) For both HIV types, failure to develop measurable antibody to HIV using the modern, routinely avalable tests is an urban myth. You can rely on your negative test results, especially given the combination of negative results with both antibody and PCR tests.
Your reference to "my partner" suggests an ongoing relatinship. For still additional security about all this, why not arrange for her or him to also be tested?
Regards-- HHH, MD
My understanding although HIV-2 is more common in India than in most countries outside western Africa, it is still quite infrequent there. To your specifc questions:
1) I don't know that HIV-2 testing is any less precise or sophisticated than elsewhere in the world. In any case, it is rare for anyone to have untreated HIV of either type and have viral load counts under 500. However, I am not familiar with specific tests produced by different companies or in different countries.
2) For both HIV types, failure to develop measurable antibody to HIV using the modern, routinely avalable tests is an urban myth. You can rely on your negative test results, especially given the combination of negative results with both antibody and PCR tests.
Your reference to "my partner" suggests an ongoing relatinship. For still additional security about all this, why not arrange for her or him to also be tested?
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1) HIV doesn't cause rashes like this. Beyond that I have no way of guessing the cause.
2) Whether or not I have seen or heard of cases like yours makes no difference in the chance you have HIV. As it happens, I have not.
The HIV-2 window period (the time from infection to positive blood test) is the same as for HIV-1, about 4-6 weeks.
You are obviously obsessed with this -- and obsessions, by definition, are impervious to evidence and rationality. No further amount of reassurance is going to resolve your fear that you might have HIV-2. These thoughts probably are going to continue to plague you until you get professional mental health counseling. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism. But this forum is not a substitue for such care, and repeated responses from me are only going to prolong the problem. This thread is closed.
2) Whether or not I have seen or heard of cases like yours makes no difference in the chance you have HIV. As it happens, I have not.
The HIV-2 window period (the time from infection to positive blood test) is the same as for HIV-1, about 4-6 weeks.
You are obviously obsessed with this -- and obsessions, by definition, are impervious to evidence and rationality. No further amount of reassurance is going to resolve your fear that you might have HIV-2. These thoughts probably are going to continue to plague you until you get professional mental health counseling. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism. But this forum is not a substitue for such care, and repeated responses from me are only going to prolong the problem. This thread is closed.
Dr.HHH,
Thank you once again, You were very clear regarding me replying again. But please help me.
1)I am concerned about rash- it was red blotches on face, upper back and chest. I woke up with them non itchy never had such rash before, seen by dermatologist who could not figure out and they lasted for 1 week. What could have caused such a rash?
2) Have you come across hiv type cases personally or met other physicians at conferences. Any thoughts about window period for type 2
Thank you
Thank you once again, You were very clear regarding me replying again. But please help me.
1)I am concerned about rash- it was red blotches on face, upper back and chest. I woke up with them non itchy never had such rash before, seen by dermatologist who could not figure out and they lasted for 1 week. What could have caused such a rash?
2) Have you come across hiv type cases personally or met other physicians at conferences. Any thoughts about window period for type 2
Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Ten or more tests?? Wow!
Contrary to what you can find on line, the truth is that vaginal yeast infections in women are no more common in those with or without HIV.
If we worried about HIV every time someone had a fever, all the available labs wouldn't be able to handle the load. Of course the vast majority of illnesses with fever have nothing to do with HIV.
1) There is no realistic possibility all your tests failed to detect an HIV infeciont. 2) You don't need an HIV Western blot. 3) Your symptoms are not especially suggestive of ARS. In any case, test results always overrule symptoms and exposure history. Even if you symptoms were classical for ARS, I would remain convinced you don't have it. 5) No comment.
Your concerns really have no basis in science. Do your best to stop worrying about this.
Thanks for the thanks, but that's as far as this thread can go. I won't have any further comments.
Contrary to what you can find on line, the truth is that vaginal yeast infections in women are no more common in those with or without HIV.
If we worried about HIV every time someone had a fever, all the available labs wouldn't be able to handle the load. Of course the vast majority of illnesses with fever have nothing to do with HIV.
1) There is no realistic possibility all your tests failed to detect an HIV infeciont. 2) You don't need an HIV Western blot. 3) Your symptoms are not especially suggestive of ARS. In any case, test results always overrule symptoms and exposure history. Even if you symptoms were classical for ARS, I would remain convinced you don't have it. 5) No comment.
Your concerns really have no basis in science. Do your best to stop worrying about this.
Thanks for the thanks, but that's as far as this thread can go. I won't have any further comments.
Dr.HHH,
Thank you for answering. I am no longer with that person. I am concerned as I developed vaginal yeast infection , few days later sorethroat with palpable neck node then after few weeks/day I am not sure I had a rash- red, big blotches on face, chest and upper back. I almost had 10-12 antibody tests from labcorp- icma and hiv 1/2 from quest all negative at 3-6 mon intervals. I also had hiv-1 dna pcr, qualitative hiv-1 rna pcr, hiv 2 specific EIA from labcorp all negative. I also had hiv 2 dna, hiv duo test, pcr from labcorp and hiv 2 dna/rna pcr from quest all negative. My last test was almost 30 months from last exposure. I am in a new relationship now and my partner develoepd fever 103 3 weeks after exposure and thst is worrying me. I am worried abt hiv 2 as i was high risk, with symptoms and i cpuld not find any research studies mentioning abt window period for type 2.
1) Is there a possibility above tests did not pick up rare strain for hiv 2
2) I never had western blot as my screening tests were always negative. I heard that western blot soemtiems shows indeterminate pattern in hiv 2, is it possible that EIA and ICMA have missed hiv 2
3) I read one of your post from Dec 2011 were you mentioned that " someone with high exposure and true ARS then negative antibody tests should be viewed with skepticism. are my symptoms sound true ARS?
5) I read some case studies online about hiv2 and most of the time viral copies were in 100-200 range and that scares me.
Thank you once again for taking time to answer my question and sorry for the lengthy post.
Thank you for answering. I am no longer with that person. I am concerned as I developed vaginal yeast infection , few days later sorethroat with palpable neck node then after few weeks/day I am not sure I had a rash- red, big blotches on face, chest and upper back. I almost had 10-12 antibody tests from labcorp- icma and hiv 1/2 from quest all negative at 3-6 mon intervals. I also had hiv-1 dna pcr, qualitative hiv-1 rna pcr, hiv 2 specific EIA from labcorp all negative. I also had hiv 2 dna, hiv duo test, pcr from labcorp and hiv 2 dna/rna pcr from quest all negative. My last test was almost 30 months from last exposure. I am in a new relationship now and my partner develoepd fever 103 3 weeks after exposure and thst is worrying me. I am worried abt hiv 2 as i was high risk, with symptoms and i cpuld not find any research studies mentioning abt window period for type 2.
1) Is there a possibility above tests did not pick up rare strain for hiv 2
2) I never had western blot as my screening tests were always negative. I heard that western blot soemtiems shows indeterminate pattern in hiv 2, is it possible that EIA and ICMA have missed hiv 2
3) I read one of your post from Dec 2011 were you mentioned that " someone with high exposure and true ARS then negative antibody tests should be viewed with skepticism. are my symptoms sound true ARS?
5) I read some case studies online about hiv2 and most of the time viral copies were in 100-200 range and that scares me.
Thank you once again for taking time to answer my question and sorry for the lengthy post.
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