How accurate is an HIV test four weeks after possible exposure?

[jay_]

A little more than four weeks ago I had a sexual encounter (oral sex) with a woman I barley knew. I know the chances of contracting HIV from oral sex alone is virtually non existent but humor me. How accurate will a test after four weeks be?

[Teak]

Had he read the first two threads of the forum both are up there.

[jay_]

"Teak? A bitter individual? You must be out of your mind."  The personal attack isn't called for, I said he "sounded" bitter, I also said I hope he can get past that. My goal wasn't to question any ones expertise, I was only seeking confirmation. I'm done with this thread now as I've obtained all the information I need, thanks again to all who responded.

[jay_]

You sound like a very bitter individual, I hope you can get past that. Well, I guess I've gotten all the answers I need concerning this. I thank everyone who responded intelligently, take care.

[Teak]

MOVE ON.

[jay_]

Ok? Teak the threat is quite unnecessary. I didn't post excessively at all. I asked a question, because I was concerned. No one forced you to read my question or answer it.

[Teak]

FORUM GUIDELINES
* Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusively negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to action by MedHelp. Conclusively negative results or a no-risk situation will be based upon the criteria established by MedHelp’s doctors. Action will be taken as follows:
    * After excessive posting, a warning will be issued by MedHelp
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[Teak]

No incident HIV infections among MSM who practice exclusively oral sex.
Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. WePpC2072)??Balls JE, Evans JL, Dilley J, Osmond D, Shiboski S, Shiboski C, Klausner J, McFarland W, Greenspan D, Page-Shafer K?University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States

Oral transmission of HIV, reality or fiction? An update
J Campo1, MA Perea1, J del Romero2, J Cano1, V Hernando2, A Bascones1
Oral Diseases (2006) 12, 219–228

AIDS: Volume 16(17) 22 November 2002 pp 2350-2352
Risk of HIV infection attributable to oral sex among men who have sex with men and in the population of men who have sex with men

Page-Shafer, Kimberlya,b; Shiboski, Caroline Hb; Osmond, Dennis Hc; Dilley, Jamesd; McFarland, Willie; Shiboski, Steve Cc; Klausner, Jeffrey De; Balls, Joycea; Greenspan, Deborahb; Greenspan
Page-Shafer K, Veugelers PJ, Moss AR, Strathdee S, Kaldor JM, van Griensven GJ. Sexual risk behavior and risk factors for HIV-1 seroconversion in homosexual men participating in the Tricontinental Seroconverter Study, 1982-1994 [published erratum appears in Am J Epidemiol 1997 15 Dec; 146(12):1076]. Am J Epidemiol 1997, 146:531-542.

Studies which show the fallacy of relying on anecdotal evidence as opposed to carefully controlled study insofar as HIV transmission risk is concerned:

Jenicek M. "Clinical Case Reporting" in Evidence-Based Medicine. Oxford: Butterworth–Heinemann; 1999:117
Saltzman SP, Stoddard AM, McCusker J, Moon MW, Mayer KH. Reliability of self-reported sexual behavior risk factors for HIV infection in homosexual men. Public Health Rep. 1987 102(6):692–697.Nov–Dec;

Catania JA, Gibson DR, Chitwood DD, Coates TJ. Methodological problems in AIDS behavioral research: influences on measurement error and participation bias in studies of sexual behavior. Psychol Bull. 1990 Nov;108(3):339–362.

There is no debate (among experts) about the HIV risks associated with oral sex. The risk is so low that almost nobody who cares for HIV infected patients has ever had a patient believed to have been infected that way. Among experts, it's a semantic issue about using terms like "no risk" and "very low risk". There is no difference between my or Dr. Hook's use of "low risk" and other experts' "no risk".
DR. HANSFIELD

"And oral sex is basically safe sex -- completely safe with respect to HIV and although not zero risk for other STDs, the chance of infection is far lower than for unprotected vaginal or anal sex. Please educate yourself about the real risks. If you stick with oral sex and condom-protected vaginal or anal sex, you have no HIV worries and very little worry about other STDs. " DR HANSFIELD

"I am sure you can find lots of people who belive that HIV is transmitted by oral sex, but you will not find scientific data to support this unrealistic concern..." DR HOOK

"HIV is not spread by touching, masturbation, oral sex or condom protected sex."- DR. HOOK

in the public HIV Prevention forum of MedHelp, TEAK and the other moderators maintain that oral sex in all forms is a zero risk activity. Would you agree with this assessment?
I TOTALLY AGREE / DR GARCIA

"The observation on thousands and thousands of observations is that HIV is not spread by oral sex (of any sort)." DR HOOK

[cna341]

you didn't have any risk at all and do not need to worry about the length of window period which is 3months(12 weeks).move on with your life.about 90% of infected persons will test positive by 4weeks.

[Teak]

3 months is conclusive.

[jay_]

So... I read 4 weeks = 90% accuracy. (ricky_id), I also read after 4 weeks the test wont be accurate at all!(Superbuggg) Which is it?

[ricky_id]

3 months are conclusive, says the medical consensus.

[Teak]

Wrong. MOVE ON.

[Superbuggg]

to answer your question... the test won't be accurate at all! It said that antibodies to HIV don't form for up-to six months

The way you describe your encounter, you have zero to worry about!

[ricky_id]

If you only fear your risk from that intercourse alone, you are gonna waste your money because 4 weeks or 12 weeks, an oral sex doesn't count as HIV risk.

Somebody put the number at like 90+% (if I'm not mistaken), but if you wanna be more specific, consult the doctors here.