Concerned for HIV infection

[Shailabh86]

Hi Docs,

I am from India. Early this year i had slept with a call girl. Its been more than 3 months and I am still regretting on it as it has filled me with great fear of HIV infection. Although that girl confirmed me telling that is ok. But i can't believe her.

The last test i undergone was Standard HIV test at 12 weeks mark and came out negative. My worry is that i heard that these tests are very insensitive as here in Indian Hospitals they dont use latest technology for HIV testing and tell us the window period as 3-6 months. I have heard of some P24 Antigen, is it also confirmatory?

I am so confused what exactly is the window period, some say it is 3 months, some say 6 months, others say even beyond that.

I sweat a lot as there is too much heat in India nowadays. I suffer a pins & needles kind off a pain in my arms & legs now sometimes. I have gained around 6-7 kg of weight in depression since then.

I want to also ask those infected people out there that what symptoms did they go through during sero-conversion? Do i need more testing? Please help me i am in great fear. I beg the experts to give me a correct advise...Thanks!

[Shailabh86]

I am so happy to share with u all that today at about more than 13 weeks I have tested negative for HIV 1&2 TRIDOT. So much relieved. Thank you all of you for all your help.
I read about Lizzie's son in her profile, this is really sad...I wish lives a healthy life and hope that soon there is a treatment found to cure HIV permanently so that people who post here are free of any such of death.
Cheers!!!
God bless all of us.

[Teak]

You never had an exposure.

[Shailabh86]

That's ok. But given that if my condom was leaking and didn't come to know about it and she had a high viral load, then what is ur opinion. Please forget about exposure, I just want ur say on my testing result n above 3 questions.

Thanks Teak!

[Teak]

You never had an exposure.

[Shailabh86]

Thank you both.
Well though my intercourse was protected but fact that condoms never provide 100% protection scares me. Their was no visible breakage post sex, it seemed fine but not sure about any leakage. I bought fresh n new latex condoms from market.

1. I read that time of infection varies on the basis that how many viruses entered into the body. If its a single virus than probably infection occurrence & testing positive can take longer than 3 months. Please correct me if I am wrong.

2. Should I go for P24 Antigen now or a normal HIV antibody test will do the job? I am just asking this coz a 4th generation test like P24 Antigen would give extra assurance. And what about going for PCR test?

3. I have pain in my neck & excessive stools & pins needles type pain in my body sometimes. This raises my doubt. Do these symptoms indicate the stage when body is going through sero-conversion? I am afraid that I might not be one of the rare cases of late sero-conversion (exceptions to the 3 months rule)

[LIZZIE LOU]

if you had unprotected vaginal intercourse, your test proves...WITHOUT A DOUBT...that you didn't contract hiv.  further testing is NOT needed.

the CURRENT testing guideline is 3 months post exposure and has been that since 2004.

[Vance2335]

Was sex protected or unprotected?

Any test on the market today has a conclusive window period of 3 months. You don't have HIV.