Aa
Please help me doctor
Hello doctor,
I made a very BIG mistake, I had unprotected anal and vaginal sex with a girl i then found out is on hiv treatment (so i assume she is hiv positive). Since the day of the encounter i have a ot of symptoms. First i had sore throat with very strong headaches. A week later i had 3 days of fever 39,2 celcius, and sore throat. Now i feel like my tongue is really white and looks like hairy. I took the following tests but still very worried since the sore throat, itchy eyes, and the white tongue persist, even though it has been 4 motns now since the date of the exposure. I had a dou test two months post exposure, another duo 3 months post exposure, and the last duo which i had yesteraday four months post expusure. The all came back negative.
I have the following questions:
1. All doctors in these forum say a duo is conclusive four weeks post exposure. Does the accuracy of the duo test increase or decrease over time? (since i know p24 antigen dissapears after a while)
2. Does the p24 antigen stay detectable and ONLY dissapear after antibodys have been made?
3. Is there a period of time in which both antibodies and p24 antigen are undetectable?
4. How long does it take after one has ARS symptoms for the body to produce enough antibodies for the duo test to detect them?
5. Would p24 be detectable when one is presenting ARS symptoms?
6. In the lab which i have had my test is a very credible lab and i dont undestand why they insist that the tests are ONLY conclusive after 6 months?
7. Have you ever seen a 4 moth negative DUO test turn positive? Can i be the case?
7. Can i be 100% sure i did not catch HIV?
I made a very BIG mistake, I had unprotected anal and vaginal sex with a girl i then found out is on hiv treatment (so i assume she is hiv positive). Since the day of the encounter i have a ot of symptoms. First i had sore throat with very strong headaches. A week later i had 3 days of fever 39,2 celcius, and sore throat. Now i feel like my tongue is really white and looks like hairy. I took the following tests but still very worried since the sore throat, itchy eyes, and the white tongue persist, even though it has been 4 motns now since the date of the exposure. I had a dou test two months post exposure, another duo 3 months post exposure, and the last duo which i had yesteraday four months post expusure. The all came back negative.
I have the following questions:
1. All doctors in these forum say a duo is conclusive four weeks post exposure. Does the accuracy of the duo test increase or decrease over time? (since i know p24 antigen dissapears after a while)
2. Does the p24 antigen stay detectable and ONLY dissapear after antibodys have been made?
3. Is there a period of time in which both antibodies and p24 antigen are undetectable?
4. How long does it take after one has ARS symptoms for the body to produce enough antibodies for the duo test to detect them?
5. Would p24 be detectable when one is presenting ARS symptoms?
6. In the lab which i have had my test is a very credible lab and i dont undestand why they insist that the tests are ONLY conclusive after 6 months?
7. Have you ever seen a 4 moth negative DUO test turn positive? Can i be the case?
7. Can i be 100% sure i did not catch HIV?
What do you think doctor symptoms and WBC changes and platelets dropped to 281 for 449 in around 8 weeks but negative p24 at 18 weeks
In aus they say 3 mth is conclusive some say 6 confused ATM I hate myself
I'm in the same position as the other dude but menstruation was involved for a short time without protection very silly 4 month p24 negative with all symptoms back pains pharyngitis gum issues ulcers thrush etc
Thank you very much doctor. I feel great after your responses.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Here are the answers:
1. If the person i had sex with had just started treatment and had a very high viral load would you still think my 4 moth post esposure duo test is 100% conclusive?
YES, IT WOULD STILL BE CONCLUSIVE
2. Today i called the lab and asked them why they said 6 month is conclusive and not 3. They said over time the virus has mutated and is getting more difficult to detect. Do you really agree with this?
I DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF THE VIRUS MUTATING TO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STRAIN (WHICH IS NOT THE CASE), IF THE TEST USED IS THE SAME ONE, IT WOULD NOT MATTER IF THE TEST IS PERFORMED AT 4, 6, 12 OR 24 MONTHS...THEREFORE I CANNOT AGREE WITH THAT EXPLANATION.
4. Do you think i should test again at 6 months or am i 100% negative?
IN MY OPINION, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED TO DO ANY FURTHER TESTS.
5. In th case i had not seroconverted the p24 antigen would stay detectable in the blood undefenetly and should have been detected by any of the three tests i had?
EXACTLY
6. Can i be sure i dont have hiv and can i have unprotected sex with my girlfriend?
YES INDEED
Your symptoms have been going on for far too long and they cannot be related to acute sero-conversion. I am sure that most of the symptoms are related to your worry and anxiety about the whole thing.
Best,
Dr José
1. If the person i had sex with had just started treatment and had a very high viral load would you still think my 4 moth post esposure duo test is 100% conclusive?
YES, IT WOULD STILL BE CONCLUSIVE
2. Today i called the lab and asked them why they said 6 month is conclusive and not 3. They said over time the virus has mutated and is getting more difficult to detect. Do you really agree with this?
I DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF THE VIRUS MUTATING TO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STRAIN (WHICH IS NOT THE CASE), IF THE TEST USED IS THE SAME ONE, IT WOULD NOT MATTER IF THE TEST IS PERFORMED AT 4, 6, 12 OR 24 MONTHS...THEREFORE I CANNOT AGREE WITH THAT EXPLANATION.
4. Do you think i should test again at 6 months or am i 100% negative?
IN MY OPINION, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED TO DO ANY FURTHER TESTS.
5. In th case i had not seroconverted the p24 antigen would stay detectable in the blood undefenetly and should have been detected by any of the three tests i had?
EXACTLY
6. Can i be sure i dont have hiv and can i have unprotected sex with my girlfriend?
YES INDEED
Your symptoms have been going on for far too long and they cannot be related to acute sero-conversion. I am sure that most of the symptoms are related to your worry and anxiety about the whole thing.
Best,
Dr José
One last thing doctor. Why do some of the other doctors state that antibodies are detectable only after a few weeks of ars symptoms. I am still having symptoms. Canb this be the reason the test have not yet turned positive. Im sorry for posting so much but the fact that the girl i had unprotected sex with is positive, and the fact that i still have symptoms is killing. I cant even sleep.
Thank you very much doctor for your words.
I have some final questions before i put this whole issue behind me. i would really appreciate your last effort answering them.
1. If the person i had sex with had just started treatment and had a very high viral load would you still think my 4 moth post esposure duo test is 100% conclusive?
2. Today i called the lab and asked them why they said 6 month is conclusive and not 3. They said over time the virus has mutated and is getting more difficult to detect. Do you really agree with this?
4. Do you think i should test again at 6 months or am i 100% negative?
5. In th case i had not seroconverted the p24 antigen would stay detectable in the blood undefenetly and should have been detected by any of the three tests i had?
6. Can i be sure i dont have hiv and can i have unprotected sex with my girlfriend?
I have some final questions before i put this whole issue behind me. i would really appreciate your last effort answering them.
1. If the person i had sex with had just started treatment and had a very high viral load would you still think my 4 moth post esposure duo test is 100% conclusive?
2. Today i called the lab and asked them why they said 6 month is conclusive and not 3. They said over time the virus has mutated and is getting more difficult to detect. Do you really agree with this?
4. Do you think i should test again at 6 months or am i 100% negative?
5. In th case i had not seroconverted the p24 antigen would stay detectable in the blood undefenetly and should have been detected by any of the three tests i had?
6. Can i be sure i dont have hiv and can i have unprotected sex with my girlfriend?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Thank you very much for your post in our forum. First of all, I would like to reassure you. Your symptoms do not follow the typical timing of HIV acute sero-conversion as they started far too early on and they have persisted for far too long since the possible exposure. Also anybody who is HIV positive and on treatment would have an undetectable viral load, and therefore not being contagious. I will try to answer all your questions here as follows:
1. All doctors in these forum say a duo is conclusive four weeks post exposure. Does the accuracy of the duo test increase or decrease over time? (since i know p24 antigen dissapears after a while)
THE ACCURACY REMAINS THE SAME AFTER 4 WEEKS. THE p24 ANTIGEN REMAINS DETECTABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER INFECTION, UP TO 6 MONTHS.
2. Does the p24 antigen stay detectable and ONLY dissapear after antibodys have been made?
NO, BY THE TIME THE p24 ANTIGEN DISAPPEARS, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE ANTIBODIES WOULD ALWAYS BE DETECTABLE.
3. Is there a period of time in which both antibodies and p24 antigen are undetectable?
NO, ONLY VERY EARLY ON AFTER THE EXPOSURE IF THE TEST IS DONE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE INFECTION.
4. How long does it take after one has ARS symptoms for the body to produce enough antibodies for the duo test to detect them?
BY DEFINITION, IF SOMEONE HAS SERO-CONVERSION SYMPTOMS, THE ANTIBODIES WOULD ALWAYS BE DETECTABLE.
5. Would p24 be detectable when one is presenting ARS symptoms?
YES, AS WELL.
6. In the lab which i have had my test is a very credible lab and i dont undestand why they insist that the tests are ONLY conclusive after 6 months?
YOU NEED TO ASK THEM THAT QUESTION.
7. Have you ever seen a 4 moth negative DUO test turn positive? Can i be the case?
NO, NEVER.
8. Can i be 100% sure i did not catch HIV?
YES, YOU CAN BE SURE. YOU ARE DEFINTIELY HIV NEGATIVE.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Thank you very much for your post in our forum. First of all, I would like to reassure you. Your symptoms do not follow the typical timing of HIV acute sero-conversion as they started far too early on and they have persisted for far too long since the possible exposure. Also anybody who is HIV positive and on treatment would have an undetectable viral load, and therefore not being contagious. I will try to answer all your questions here as follows:
1. All doctors in these forum say a duo is conclusive four weeks post exposure. Does the accuracy of the duo test increase or decrease over time? (since i know p24 antigen dissapears after a while)
THE ACCURACY REMAINS THE SAME AFTER 4 WEEKS. THE p24 ANTIGEN REMAINS DETECTABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER INFECTION, UP TO 6 MONTHS.
2. Does the p24 antigen stay detectable and ONLY dissapear after antibodys have been made?
NO, BY THE TIME THE p24 ANTIGEN DISAPPEARS, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE ANTIBODIES WOULD ALWAYS BE DETECTABLE.
3. Is there a period of time in which both antibodies and p24 antigen are undetectable?
NO, ONLY VERY EARLY ON AFTER THE EXPOSURE IF THE TEST IS DONE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE INFECTION.
4. How long does it take after one has ARS symptoms for the body to produce enough antibodies for the duo test to detect them?
BY DEFINITION, IF SOMEONE HAS SERO-CONVERSION SYMPTOMS, THE ANTIBODIES WOULD ALWAYS BE DETECTABLE.
5. Would p24 be detectable when one is presenting ARS symptoms?
YES, AS WELL.
6. In the lab which i have had my test is a very credible lab and i dont undestand why they insist that the tests are ONLY conclusive after 6 months?
YOU NEED TO ASK THEM THAT QUESTION.
7. Have you ever seen a 4 moth negative DUO test turn positive? Can i be the case?
NO, NEVER.
8. Can i be 100% sure i did not catch HIV?
YES, YOU CAN BE SURE. YOU ARE DEFINTIELY HIV NEGATIVE.
Best wishes,
Dr José
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