HIV test, please help

[depressingman]

Dear Dr.,

I am a family man living in Canada with my wife and a six-year-old son. I just made a stupid mistake in my life. A couple of weeks ago, I had a business trip to Korea and had a sex with a female sex worker on Oct 31. I used a condom during the whole process, including one minute oral sex and two minutes vaginal intercourse (didn't check if the condom is broken or not; I remember the condom still covered the head of my penis when I pulled out)  I then travelled to India. One week later (Nov 7) I got a cold with productive cough and sore throat. I also developed a fever (100~102). I went to see a local doctor. He gave me a shot for reducing the fever, and asked me to take Amoxicillin pills for a week. The fever was gone in three days, and the cough was gone in about ten days. Yesterday when I was surfing internet, I happened to read an article about HIV ARS. It seems my symptoms are very similar to that, although I didn't observe joint pain, diarrhea, enlarged lymph nodes and rash.  I am scared to death. I don't know if I have been infected with HIV.  I then found this great forum. After reading many posted questions, I understand that symptoms may not be used for HIV diagnosis. I am just still very nervous. Is my symptoms a typical ARS?  I am planning to take an 8 week HIV test as you recommened in many posts. However, since I have taken some medicine when I had fever and cold. I wonder if this will make it longer for the HIV antibody to appear. Is the 8 week test result still accurate in my case?  Thank you very much for your reply. I really appreciate your help.

My life has been messed up. I regret my mistake deeply...

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Please read my reply again.  It says that your 8 week results can be counted on.  You do not  need repeat testing.

Yes, the HIV rapid tests used in Canada are the same as those used in the U.S. and can be relied upon.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sounds like you may have made a decision you feel bad about.  Sorry to hear that.  At the same time, I can tell you that you do not have HIV and really have nothing to worry about.  Here is why.

1.  You used a condoms.  If it covered the head of your penis when you were done, it did not break.  When condoms break they tear wide open and it is obvious that they are broken. In addition, condoms work.
2. You have appear to have missed our repeated statements that the symptoms of the ARS are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection.  When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes. In contrast, over a given year, there is almost no one who has not had a viral illness, night sweats or both (sometimes on multiple occasions).  In addition, it is also important to realize that many persons who acquire HIV do not experience the ARS.  For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time.  Thus while your cold symptoms are indeed part of what is described for the ARS, given your situation, what you have is a cold, not ARS.

Having  taken medicine for your cold would not be expected to slow your antibody production, had you gotten HIV (you did not!).  When you get the HIV test at 8 weeks, please realize that the major reason that you are getting it is for your own piece of mind and when the result is negative, you will know, as I do now, that you do not have HIV.  EWH

[depressingman]

Thanks for your answers, Dr.

[depressingman]

Thank you very much, Dr.!  Your answer makes me feel better.

A couple of more questions (maybe very silly):

If I get a negative test result at 8 week, do I need to take another test at 12 week?

Is the rapid HIV test used in Canada reliable? Should I ask for two tests at the same time?