African partner

[stupidmistake31]

Hello doctors.

I want to thank you for the oportunity of having a persolized response from you.

3 months ago i was a llitle drunk and paid a black csw to have sex. I didnt have a condom on me and i had unprotected vaginal and anal sex with her. After 17 days i started to have what the docotors call the traid. I went to the hospital and the doctor suspected it cold be hiv related. He did a duo test (roche combi) and the result came back negative. He told me to have another test at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks. I tool both and they came back negative. I was really reliefed until a friend who studies medecine told me that there are some strains of hiv that can not be picked up by the duo test, and that this strais were most common in africa. I am in panic now since the csw was african black and she obviously doesent care about her health since she agreed to have unprotected sex.

I want toknow the following things.

1. Does the roche combi test detect all stains of hiv? including those rare strains from africa?
2. What kind of test can i have to rule out an hiv infection to those rare stains?
3. I was told by my friend that one of the strains that cant be picked up by the duo test is HIV O. Is this true?
4. How do people with this strains get diagnosed if it is so difficult to detect them?
5. Can i be confident i did not catch hiv?

The three results from the duo test were the following:
1. Index value 0.15
2. Index value 0.21
3. Index value 0.13

Would the index value show a little higher if infected with one of the rare stains?

I have read many posts in search of an answer but itdoesent seem to be a clear answer to this.

Thank you doctors for your help.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

you have read my statements correctly. there is no need for me to repeat myself.  EWH

[stupidmistake31]

Thank you very much doctor.

So in conclusion, is it right to say that 4th generation tests will detect any type of groups and sub groups of HIV 1 and 2. And if it was a rare strain they woould have a high index value wich would lead to further investigation?

So in my case my index values were unequivocally negative for hiv and should not worrry any further about this exposure.

Correct me if im wrong and feel free to close thiss post afterwarrds.

I really appreciate your help doctor!!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I will not go into a long and involved explanation of the curiosities that you are so needlessly worried about.  Most of our clients who hear about these outlier strains have spent too much time on the internet and get needlessly worried because of that.  I will briefly address the questions you have asked that are relevant.  While older HIV test kits, all currently manufactured kits do detect type O.  continued concern about such types is inappropriate as it is no longer and issue.  Beyond that I will not waste your time or mine trying to explain things you have been mislead about.  

1.  Correct.
2.  Very, very rarely
3.  You already have.
4.  Wrong.  It would be picked up
5. No, I would not be concerned.
6. Yes

The reasons the information about the so-called rare strains that you mentioned are hard to find out anything about is because they are, in large part a mythical fabrication, fueled by mis-information and obsxervations made in the past which are no longer correct or relevant.  You need to stop worrying.  EWH

[stupidmistake31]

6. Are all groups and subgroups of HIV 1 detected by te DUO test.

It would bevery nice doctor if you could explain a little where this rare strains come from and what groups of HIV they belong to and how they can be detected and ruled out. I have searched all of the posts regarding this subject and found out that it has never been explaind carefully. Thank you. I know many people will benefit from reading it.

[stupidmistake31]

Thank you for your fast reply doctor. I really appreciate it but did not understand it very well.

From your reply i have the following questions:

1. If a person was infected by one of the rare strains, their test would throguh an equivocall result, meaning a higher index value?
2. Are the rare types of HIV from HIV 1 or HIV 2?
3. Is there a test that i can have that would certainly detect if i am infected with one of these strains?
4. I was told the DUO test would not be able to pick up hiv group O. Is this true?
5. If you were in my situation after having unprotected sex with a black african women would you be worried about one of this rare strains of hiv? I am 100 % sure she is form Africa since she told me.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'll try to help.  At this time you should be confident that you do not have HIV.  Even if Africa the so-called "rare" strains are just that- exceedingly rare. further, typically when a person acquired HIV other than HIV type-1 their test results yield results which are equivocal and lead to further testing and, through that, identification of infection,  The index values of your tests are unequivocally negative.  thus you really need not worry about the possibility of HIV.  You did not get it from what was, in retrospect, not a wise decision.

I hope this comment is helpful to you. Take care. EWH