Reassurance needed after repeated tests

[AllGoodThings1]

Hi There-

I am looking for an assessment and confirmation after a risk exposure 5 months ago.

I was hooking up with a guy I did not know well, but who asserted he was HIV negative. He briefly inserted the head of his penis in my anus unprotected for less than 5 seconds. His penis was not fully in me and he did not ejaculate. 4-5 weeks after said incident, I came down with flu like symptoms including sore throat and fever for a few days. It was believed to be a bacterial infection, and went away with antibiotics. This, however, truly freaked me out and at 8 weeks after the exposure I received a NEGATIVE rapid test an NEGATIVE HIV RNA/Early Test at a NYC testing site. I was told the combination of these tests were conclusive, since the RNA test provided definitive results as of 11 days after exposure. Because this still did not ease my worries, I have continued to have a series of rapid hiv tests:

12 weeks after exposure - NEGATIVE rapid fingerpick test
17 weeks after exposure - NEGATIVE rapid UNIGOLD
21 weeks after exposure (5 months) - NEGATIVE Oral Swab test

I know that a negative hiv test after 3 months is conclusive, however, I somehow cannot shake the coincidence of getting sick after my possible exposure. Can you please assess my situation and provide your opinion on my status?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I can understand your concerns given the coincidence of having a flu-like illness shortly following a possible (and by no means definite) exposure however your tests are definitive.  However, you have been tested on multiple occasions using multiple different sorts of tests, all of which by themselves are typically considered definitive.  Taken together, there is simply no way that you acquired HIV form the exposure you describe.  Really..

Time to put these concerns behind you and move forward with confidence, knowing that you did not get HIV form the exposure you describe.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your repeated, redundant questions are excessive.  In my inital response I said "there is simply no way that you acquired HIV from the exposure you describe."  Repeating the question does not change the answer  and I will not repeat it again. EWH

[AllGoodThings1]

sorry I don't know if your name is being tagged or not

[AllGoodThings1]

See above

[AllGoodThings1]

Finally, I just want to feel completely conclusive and resolved: Are you saying it is simply not possible to have a negative antibody test at 4 and 5 months if indeed infected? I am just freaked out that I had fever/night sweats/sore throat a 4-5 weeks after the incident. Would that combination of rapid test/early rna test definitely 100% been positive if I indeed had experienced ARS when I was sick? Thanks and apologies for the excessive follow-ups.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Neither the immune boosting shots, nor that EB virus would change your results.  Be confident.  There is no reason related to this post for you to owry about haivvng unprotected sex with your regular partner.  EWH

[AllGoodThings1]

your guidance is greatly appreciated

[AllGoodThings1]

can  i be 100% assured and have sex with these results? I wanted to add that i had a few immune boosting shots a couple times after my exposure through the hollistic doctor i go to. i had slight signs of epsteins barr on a blood test i had a few months prior. would having epsteins or getting a couple anti-viral shots change results? i believe the shots were homeopathic but not totally sure.