Can I Still be positive?

[stupidjohn]

Doctor, I hope you will shed some light on my ordeal.  I had unprotected sex with Chinese sex workers in US over that past 4 years.  I know stupid.  My latest was just over 13 months ago.  I was tested at a local health clinic at 3, 6, 12 months with Oraquick advance blood test.  I also had some tests by an online company which used Quest and Labcorp antibody tests at 12 & 13 months respectively.  All my testing has been negative and local health department person said NO WAY HIV at this point.  I have now for over 3/4 of a year had, easy bruising, muscle twitching, sore throat, needle sensations in feet, face, and hands, white tongue, and LOTS of visual changes which have been really bothersome like little floating things in vision that have not been there before.  A few questions:  1) Could I have been infected a few years ago and now in more advanced stages of HIV but not detectable?  2) Is there a chance that all the testing that I have had could miss some "odd" strain?  3) How can I be SURE that it is NOT HIV?  Please help, I dont want to be the person who the tests miss because of something "rare/odd".  Thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No suprise,  You STILL don't have HIV. The CMV and EBV have nothing to do with your (lack of) HIV.  End of comments.  EWH

[stupidjohn]

I got labs back today. bDNA was not detectable, BUT, on CMV, the IGM was high and IGG normal,  and EBV the IGG was high and IGM normal. Both of these were out of the reference range. Thoughts?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Repeat testing will not change the fact that you do not have HIV.  This ends this thread.  If you wish to post your test results when availble you may do so but there will be no further comments.  EWH

[stupidjohn]

I saw an infectious disease doctor the other day. He ordered HIV -1 bDNA, HIV-2 DNA, and HIV 2 EIA. Also CMV, EBV, Lyme, am
Cortisol, ACTH. my only other questions that I hope you will PLEASE answer are 1) should I be concerned about HIV1/2  since he is ordering these HIV tests(even though I tested negative multiple times out to a year with ELISA and oraquick ,and negative RNA & DNA at six months)? 2) As an infectious disease specialist have you ever in your career seen anyone like me(with all prior testing), show positive with the testing that was just done?  3) Can I relay results of tests when become avaiable next week?  I hope you will respond and answer. Thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This will be your last answer.  You asked for my assessment.  Now you want to know if it is possible that the test somehow missed some sort of alien HIV strain that the tests cannot pick up. The answer remains no.

2.  No.

3.  Of course, people were getting fungal infections long elfore HIV appeared on the scene.

4.  It really doesn't matter what tests you get, they will be negative.  

End of discussion. EWH

[stupidjohn]

Dr, I appreciate your responses to the questions. I understand that
anxiety plays a role in all of the people here. 1)How can one be
absolutely confident in the setting of chronic and confirmed
symptoms(by my doctor) that they are not infected even though all
testing negative? 2) As an academic/professor/expert, have you ever
seen a strain/group/subtype(which the test is not designed to pick up) or atypical
host that was not detected by our standard tests used here in US? 3)
Can a person have a fungal infection(throat/tongue/eye) even if they have
generally been healthy? 4)Are there any other HIV tests that would
completely rule HIV out as the cause(bDNA, etc), and if I test again
with same tests already taken, would that be a waste? I just want to
be healthy again. I hope you will answer these questions and I will
not burden you with ongoing discussion. Thank you very much.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Visual problems o fth sort you mention have many, many causes.  If they trouble you, you should discuss them with an opthalmologist, not spend time worrying about an infection that you have proved that you do not have.  I would not test further and if you were my relative, I would tell you that if you are still worried about HIV you need to see a psychiatirist, not to test further for HIV.

"Low" monocytes and lymphocytes is likelwise non-specifc and does not raise a concern about HIV for me in your case.  

The HIV types are related and tests look for common shared antigens, not the ones which distinquish one type form another


You really need to stop worrying about HIV and move forward.  EWH

[stupidjohn]

So Doctor: 1) even with all things going on with vision and other things, I shouldn't worry about HIV as to the cause?  I forgot to mention in my last labs I had low lymphocyte count and above normal monocytes. 2)If I was your relative would you order any additional tests?  3) I guess I don't understand testing in full. If tests are designed for group m, would it still pick up the ones not intended for? Thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There is simply no way that you could have HIV at this time.  Your concerns are contrary to all that we know about HIV an HIV diagnosis.  Persons with HIV so advanced that their tests are not positive are incredibly uncommon and when they occur they are on death's door, literally.  Further, your tests would not miss the mythical “odd strain” of HIV.   It is nonsensical for you to continue to worry about HIV at this time.  If you cannot shake your concern you do not need further testing, you need the help of a trained counselor who can help you overcome these unwarranted concerns.  EWH