Doc -
I've been reading a lot on this site, and have felt pretty good where I was at with an HIV test - thanks so much for what you do. To my story and my questions.
8 weeks ago I had unprotected vaginal sex. 2 weeks after the unprotected sex I came down with malaise, fatigue sore throat, a foliculitus type rash, very stuffy nose that developed into mild bronchitus, NO fever. These symptoms worried me, so I had an HIV 1/2 antibody test at 7 weeks, that was negative. I was feeling good about the results and my doctor said there was no need for follow up - he left a message on my machine and I never got the chance to talk to him.
A week later I went back to the doctor for other things, but my doc was on vacation. When I went in, a resident doctor came in to look at me and refrenced my HIV test. I asked if he could explain exactly what the deal was - he gave some long answer and said that it meant nothing to my possible exposure 7 weeks prior, and that only 3 and 6 months would be definitive - this freaked me out, I thought I was ok. Another doctor came in and said that if I wanted to know the exact answer that I should get a viral load test, I've now done such. Now I see online that with the viral load test there are false positives reported. I'm so frieghtened that I am HIV negative but that this will come back as HIV positive (false positive).
Questions:
1. I know the antibody test is probably in the high 90s for accuracy - any chance you could put a percentage on that?
2. If anything, does my antibody test mean 100% that the symptoms I experienced at 2 weeks were not ARS?
3. Is the ARS rash anything like foliculitus?
4. How common is a viral load test to show as false positive?
5. Should I tell the doctor to cancel the viral load test (I got it 2 days ago)?
5. I feel as though my sanity has been ripped from me by the people who are suppose to take care of me - is this something that needs to reported to my state medical board?