HIV Questions

[andrew403]

Dear Doctor ,
I have a few questions to ask you .

I recieved oral sex this was fellatio about 11 months 2 weeks back.This was unprotected.Then again 8 months back I had unprotected anal sex once for less than a minute and had protected vaginal and oral sex a couple of times.

1) I had 2 (CMIA) duo tests for hiv 1&2 , p24 antigen and Antibody's to HIV.I had this test twice once at 6 months 2 weeks (0.18)Non reactive and then again at 6 months 3 weeks (0.33).What is this increase in value indicative of ?

2)I also had 2 immunochromatography tests at 7 months post exposure and 7 months 2 weeks post exposure.It was Non reactive again.How reliable are these tests and is it conclusive ?

3)I also had a CD4, CD8 count done.My CD4 = 522 , CD8 = 416. Hence the ratio 1.25.Is this normal for a hiv negative Male of 18 years of age ? .I was mentally stressed when i went for the test and i have been smoking for 8 months now. If I had HIV i would have an elevated cd8 count right ?

4)I also had my Immunoglobulin G test and Immunoglobulin E test both were within normal range.Is this indicative of a normal infection free body ? Has in HIV infection the IGG  level would have been elevated right ?

5)I also had a proviral DNA by PCR method.This was 8 months post exposure.I know this was useless as i have negative antibody tests beyond the window period , but it this PCR test would still show positive if i had the virus after 8 months too right ? And is it possible for the HIV viral load to be less than 100 copies hence not be detected ? I did not take any HIV medication and do not take drugs or chemo.

Thanks
Andrew

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You said one more question and I fell for it. There are no more answers forthcoming.  You do not have HIV.  I told you that.  Further questions will result in deletion of the entire thread.  EWH

[andrew403]

So the fact that my PCR test and my HIV antibody test is negative suggests that neither the antibody nor the virus are present hence i am conclusively negative right ?
Because if I was still in my window period , the dna for the virus would have been detected , am i correct ?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, HIV replicates very, very fast.  As a result once infected persons are have thousands of circulating viruses in their blood stream starting at the earliest stages of the infection and staying that way throughout.  EWH

[andrew403]

Ok , sir i appreciate it.One last question.
But if i had HIV my concentration would be in the thousands , is this because it replicates very fast and will it be in the thousands even after 8 months ?

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your anxiety-driven questions are over the top.  It is not my opinion but a scientific fact that the so called window period for HIV is 8 weeks or less.  

This will end this thread.  Further anxiety driven questions will be deleted without comment.  EWH

[andrew403]

What is the window period according to you sir ?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

What you have heard is wrong.  Believe your test results.  Really I have nothing more to say beyond the response I made earlier today.  EWH

[andrew403]

Thank you so much Doctor , But i am concerned because i have been feeling weak for a while now and have muscle twitching.
No loss of appetite i have gained weight.
But I have heard it can take upto 1 year to develop antibodies to HIV is this true ?
And even if i was in my window period the p24 antigen would have been detected right ?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Andrew:

There must be something I have missed here.  By my count you have been tested for HIV at least five times with negative tests but you continue to worry, pursuing the unrealistic possibility of HIV with non-specific tests such as a CD4 count and immunoglobulin studies which represent nothing more than a waste of time and money.  Your tests are negative.  you do not have HIV.  You need to understand this.  No amount of further testing will EVER show that you have HIV from the exposures you mention.  I will briefly address your questions but, if you cannot get these concerns behind you, you do not need further testing, you need to talk with a counselor or other professional who can help you to move forward.

1.  When values “bounce around" like this far below the cut off used to define a negative result, this represents non-specific day-to-day fluctuation in the test, nothing more.  It has NO IMPLICATIONS WHATSOEVER as to risk for HIV.

2.  Highly reliable and, like your earlier tests, conclusive in showing that you do not have HIV.

3.  The CD4/CD8 ratio is non-specific and does not in any way suggest any problem.  this is not something for you to worry about.

4.  The IgG test is TOTALLY NONSPECIFIC.  that yours is normal means the you are normal on this test.  Another waste of money.

5.  Another waste of money.  If you have HIV the test would be positive with HIV concentrations in the thousands, if not tens of thousands.

Please, please accept that you do not have HIV.  If you cannot, consider the possibility that guilt, shame and stigma might be playing in your concerns.  EWH