HIV test negative, HepB Ab test < 10 at 7 weeks

[WorriedKiwi]

Hello Doc,

I had protected vaginal intercourse with a sex worker in New Zealand on Aug 26. Since then I have been worrying if I contracted HIV. I get these weird thoughts like what if the condom had broken and I failed to notice it and stuff like that.

So, I took the following tests:

6th Sep - Chlamidia (negative)
17th oct - INSTI HIV test (negative)
17th oct - HepC Ab, HepB Ag/Ab, HIV Ab (1+2), Syphilis

All the tests on 17th october were negative but  HepB antibody level < 10.0 mIU/mL.  It is stated that "Hep Bs Ab level of 10 or above is considered to be protective against Hep B" which is worrying me.

Do you think my lower HepB Ab level has anything to do with HIV. Is 7 weeks HIV antibody test reliable? I was told by the lab (labtests.co.nz) that the HIV test they use is CMIA but nothing was specified on the copy of test results. They just mentioned "HIV (1+2) antibodies Negative".

What further tests do you recommend? PLEASE HELP.

Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No.  My guess is that this has never happened.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  Unfortunately, however, I cannot really help.  Based both on this question and the discussions on the community forum, it is clear that the problem here concerns your mental health, not any risk of HIV.  The vast majority of people who have sex with commercial partners do not catch HIV; most sex workers don't have it, and the transmission risk for any particular exposure is low; and you used a condom, for goodness' sake!  More important, your HIV test results are completely reliable and prove you were not infected.  In response to the questions below:  no, I have never heard of anyone with a negative HIV antibody test at 7 weeks who actually turned out to have HIV; and there is no chance of having HIV with both a negative antibody and p24 antigen test at 7 weeks.

Regards--  HHH, MD

[WorriedKiwi]

I just received my HIV(1+2) Antibody test results - NEGATIVE at 11 weeks 3 days.

Thank you so much.

[WorriedKiwi]

Just wanted to let you know about my CMIA test results. Here is the email I received from the lab:

"Your sample was ran on our analyser that tests for HIV (1+2) Ab and Ag and is Negative."

Thanks.

[WorriedKiwi]

Thank you so much.

One last question (I promise) before I sign off....

As I mentioned, I asked my lab to re-do my hiv test using CMIA method (as they just tested for antibodies previously), Have you seen a negative antibody test turning out to be a positive DUO test at 7 weeks?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

See above.

[WorriedKiwi]

I just called my lab and they told me that they just did HIV Antibody test. I asked them to redo the test using CMIA method which they are doing now.

What are the chances of p24 antigen presence without detactable hiv antibodies at 7 weeks?

That's all I have to ask. Thank you.

[WorriedKiwi]

Also, have you seen or heard of a 7 week hiv negative test result turn positive later?