Aa
Is 4th Generation Test 12 weeks post PEP Conclusive?
Hi,
I had unprotected sex with a woman early morning on January 23, 2018. I am from a subcontinent country and she migrated to a large first world country in the East. She returned on holiday and we had sex. I came to know that she had called our other friends, who I believe were also negative but somehow with one of them I learned the sex didn't happen due to erectile dysfunction.
I always wanted to be safe but as she was ignorant of safe sex and due to power dynamics and repression, I gave in. She was a bit insistent on unsafe sex.
I took PEP after 67.5 hours after exposure. I completed the PEP course without missing a single dose. I tested immediately after the completion of PEP with 4th generation tests on day 29, 30, 41, 49, 58, 70, 72, 84 and 114 (84 days or 12 weeks after completion of PEP).
Is this result conclusive? Some old guidelines say one should test six months after an exposure post PEP for conclusive results? This plays on my mind heavily and increases my OCD.
I was also obsessed about an event on day 72, when I slashed my little finger with a knife while cutting tape and had sutures performed. I feared the nurse reused the syringe. However, I tested negative on day 114, after day 72. I still also fear getting a religious tonsure from a temple visited by a large number of people, as the guy used his own blade and I couldn't get one.
My questions are:
1) Is my 114 day, 12 weeks post PEP, 16 weeks post exposure results conclusive?
2) Is the syringe at the hospital on day 72 worth fearing for a transmission?
3) Is my tonsuring with a used blade, if it were, any risk?
4) Testing at the 6 month mark has been giving me a lot of anxiety. Should I test 6 months after exposure and 5 months after PEP for a conclusive result?
Someone please let me know. I would like it if someone like Teak would say move on :) Thank you all in advance
I had unprotected sex with a woman early morning on January 23, 2018. I am from a subcontinent country and she migrated to a large first world country in the East. She returned on holiday and we had sex. I came to know that she had called our other friends, who I believe were also negative but somehow with one of them I learned the sex didn't happen due to erectile dysfunction.
I always wanted to be safe but as she was ignorant of safe sex and due to power dynamics and repression, I gave in. She was a bit insistent on unsafe sex.
I took PEP after 67.5 hours after exposure. I completed the PEP course without missing a single dose. I tested immediately after the completion of PEP with 4th generation tests on day 29, 30, 41, 49, 58, 70, 72, 84 and 114 (84 days or 12 weeks after completion of PEP).
Is this result conclusive? Some old guidelines say one should test six months after an exposure post PEP for conclusive results? This plays on my mind heavily and increases my OCD.
I was also obsessed about an event on day 72, when I slashed my little finger with a knife while cutting tape and had sutures performed. I feared the nurse reused the syringe. However, I tested negative on day 114, after day 72. I still also fear getting a religious tonsure from a temple visited by a large number of people, as the guy used his own blade and I couldn't get one.
My questions are:
1) Is my 114 day, 12 weeks post PEP, 16 weeks post exposure results conclusive?
2) Is the syringe at the hospital on day 72 worth fearing for a transmission?
3) Is my tonsuring with a used blade, if it were, any risk?
4) Testing at the 6 month mark has been giving me a lot of anxiety. Should I test 6 months after exposure and 5 months after PEP for a conclusive result?
Someone please let me know. I would like it if someone like Teak would say move on :) Thank you all in advance
COMMUNITY LEADER
1) YES - stop testing and move on.
2) No - medical staff do NOT reuse needles, even in the poorest countries. A new needle is way cheaper than treating a patient with HIV for life, so it's simply not done.
3) No
4) See #1
Regarding your other risk questions - the only risks are having unprotected anal or vaginal sex, or sharing intravenous needles. If you don't do either of those, you will never have to worry about HIV.
2) No - medical staff do NOT reuse needles, even in the poorest countries. A new needle is way cheaper than treating a patient with HIV for life, so it's simply not done.
3) No
4) See #1
Regarding your other risk questions - the only risks are having unprotected anal or vaginal sex, or sharing intravenous needles. If you don't do either of those, you will never have to worry about HIV.
1 Comments
Wow! Thank you! Just that the old guidelines are still a problem and some doctors like Dr. Bob and some of the others insist on it. And thank you very much! You don't know how much it means for us to come from you guys :)
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
