help interperet?

[tlib410]

Please help. I had an exposure just over one year ago (unprotected sex). Have had plenty of symptoms. Will you help determine my status..

3.5 weeks: Neg Rapid @ clinic
4 Week: Pos Rapid - home oraquick
4 Week: Neg Rapid- Home oraquick
5.5 Week: Neg Rapid @ clinic
6 week: Neg Rapid - home oraquick
7 week: Neg Rapid - home oraquick
8 Month: Neg Rapid - home oraquick
9 Month: Neg Rapid - home oraquick
10 Month: Neg Rapid - home oraquick
1 Year: Neg Rapid - home oraquick
1 year: Negative antibody lab based test

please help me determine these results. Do I need more testing to rule out the positive way back? or is my 1 year antibody lab test conclusive?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Please re-read and concentrate on my original reply, including "...test results always overrule...symptoms."

That's ALWAYS.  There are no exceptions ever.  It doesn't matter what symptoms you have now or may develop in the future, and no matter how typical they may seem to be for HIV or AIDS.  Your test results PROVE you don't have HIV.  Accept the reasonsed, science based reassurance you have had, stop testing unless and until you have other potential exposures, and move on with your life.

That will end this thread.  Best wishes.

[tlib410]

Thank you Dr.

I have minor swollen gland on the right side of my groin. It is a little bit tender. Is this a typical symptom of hiv? Or do swollen glands have to last for a long period of time for them to be considered a symptom?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You don't need a Western blot or any other test.  You can trust all your test results from 6 weeks onward.  You didn't need most of the tests you did.  For sure stop testing now.  You don't have HIV and should stop worrying about it.

That will end this thread.  Take care.

[tlib410]

Thanks Dr. My most recent test was a lab based test, drew blood and tested for antibodies, this test was done at 1 year.  Are you saying this is the result I should trust? Or do I need a western blot test as well?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks, but this doesn't change anything.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

One of the most consistent themes on this forum (you can read any 10 threads at random to see lots of discussion) is that the HIV blood tests are among the most accurate tests that exist, for any medical condition.  If enough time has passed since the last possible exposure, the results are 100% reliable -- and that time is 4-8 weeks (rarely up to 3 months), depending on the specific test or combination of tests.  For those reasons, test results always overrule exposure history and symptoms.

Of course your result contains a wrinkle -- the apparent false positive result with a home Oraquick test at 4 weeks.  But with all the subsequent negative tests, you can be sure those are the accurate ones, not the 4 week result.

That said, what you should have done when you had the apparent positive result was gone to a doctor or clinic for laboratory-based testing.  If you had done so right away, you could have had definitive proof you were not infected and would not have had to repeatedly test yourself of the next year.

Anyway, you can be sure you don't have HIV.  You don't describe your exposure or symptoms, but it really doesn't matter.  No matter how high the risk was at the time, and no matter how typical your symptoms might be for a new HIV infection, the test results rule.  If you continue to have symptoms you are concerned about, see a doctor or clinic about them.  But you can be sure HIV isn't the cause.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[tlib410]

sorry I forgot to add one more test at 10 months was a neg rapid at a clinic