HIV testing window...clean?

[muaddib86]

Hi. About roughly 4 weeks ago I had unprotected oral and protected vaginal sex with a condom on with an HIV+ woman whom I didn't know had it at the time. I might add that I'd shaved my genitals an hour and half before sex and am afraid of abrasions or small cuts posing a significant risk if they came into contact with her saliva or vaginal fluids.

Since then, I've had an oral swab taken 15 days after exposure (too early to detect anything, I know), as well as a 4th generation antigen\antibody blood test taken at 20 days after exposure and both turned out negative.

I have had no acute HIV symptoms so far (today is the 28th day) for the entire duration - no fever or flu or sore throat or rash or swollen lymphs, and I have no other STDs - all the other STD tests turned out negative too. My doctor told me I was already at very low risk.

I have been experiencing severe anxiety for the last week, and my doctor says that symptoms I have experienced: increased salivation and wanting to spit whenever I am more stressed, tingling in my throat and feelings of it being scratchy sometimes that pass, sometimes a tightness around the chest, fitful sleep and waking up feeling tired, are all classic anxiety symptoms. I know that isolated symptoms that are temporary don't mean anything and so have been trying very hard to not stress or panic.

I have another oral swab test and another 4th gen blood test scheduled tomorrow at exactly 29 days. Is a 4th generation HIV1/2 antigen\antibody blood test taken at 20 days after exposure and showing nonreactive conclusive? Most of the reports online say the test is highly accurate after a window period of 2 weeks and above. Should I be worried?

P.S. These are the results I got:

Test Name :HIV AG/AB,4TH GEN Result: NON-REACTIVE Flag(s): Reference Range: NON-REACTIVE Reported Date: 6/7/2016 12:38 PM Footnote: U

A Nonreactive HIV Ag/Ab,4th Gen result does not exclude HIV infection since the time frame for seroconversion is variable. If acute HIV infection is suspected, HIV-1 RNA TMA Qualitative (16185) testing would be recommended. The performance of this assay has not been clinically validated in patients less than 2 years old.

[JohnSnowNew]

Saliva first of all is not a carrier of HIV, it has an enzyme that deactivate HIV, secondly if a cut or wound is healed then my friend you have got nothing to worry, thirdly it is possible for hiv to transmit through fresh cuts and wounds but its only in theory and there has never been a confirmed case. Get your 3 months test, its gonna be negative, stop checking sites like this, stop googling symptoms, stop thinking about it altogether. just talk to your dr, he can help you with counseling and giving you right advice.

[muaddib86]

Thanks. Just curious though: can HIV be transmitted through minor cuts or abrasions that may have already begun to heal if they come into contact with saliva?

[muaddib86]

Thank you!

[JohnSnowNew]

I answered your question once but it seems my post is just gone, im going to make another attempt to put your mind at ease. according to i-base.info, your 4th gen test at 4 weeks is almost conclusive, by 4 weeks, 4th gen test picks up more than 95% and by three months more than 99.97%.
As you see you are really in the safe zone so nothing to worry but to completely rule out the possibility take another test at 3 months and move on.
Tests always overrule any circumstances or symptoms then one last suggestion, never google symptoms or window period or anything else. keep your head busy, work with your dr and health care provider and before you know it, you will receive your 3 months test and im quite convinced its going to be negative.

[JohnSnowNew]

the chances to acquire hiv from one time exposure from oral sex from a pos person is 1-10000 and from an unprotected vaginal sex its 1-2500.
There are factors such as STDs or Acute period that can increase the chance however if those aren't apply in your situation therefore your chance of acquiring hiv from this one exposure is less than one percent and your 4th gen test at 4 weeks is a great indicator of your status although its not conclusive.
the window period for a 4th gen according to i-base.info is 4 weeks and by this time >95% will developed enough antigens or antibodies to be picked by the test and after three months its 99.97%. therefore you are in the safe side however for a conclusive result get another test at 3 and move on.
Do Not search google about HIV or window period or symptoms at all since it will just make your anxiety worse. keep working with your doctor and before you know it your 3 months test will be negative. good luck my friend. next time play smart, play safe.