Should I retest after the signs are gone?

[TalkToMe01]

Here is my scenario:

Sex without condom with a man. I am female.

5 weeks later, I had CMIA 4th generation test with nonreactive results. After few days, I had a cold (not sure if it's flu because the signs are similar). I wasn't "too sick" though because I was still able to go to work and even had a great appetite. Basically, it's a terrible dry coughing, a minor pain in my throat for about a day, some muscle spasms and pains and sudden pain in the head that came and went. Also had some rash spots in my chest. They looked like acne. No pus but they're reddish pink and a bumpy to the touch.

6 weeks after sex, I had another cmia test. Nonreactive. But the cold signs are still there. Also, a few days later, the area on my chest looked a little flushed. The pores looked more prominent and the area looked slightly red. The next day, I felt slightly feverish and I had a headache for half a day after that. Together with that, I felt slightly lethargic but I tried my best to remain active at work.

7 weeks after sex, I had a 3rd generation finger prick test, nonreactive results. Cold signs have not gone away. A day later, I had 3 small mouth sores.

The signs I'm experiencing, do they look like ARS? If these signs were indeed ars, shouldn't they appear at the same time, or can they appear in succession with one major sign (in my case, the cold-like signs) continuing the entire time? My tests, how reliable are they? Should I test after the signs are gone? I read in another article that when a test is done and the results are negative but there are signs of ars, then the test should be taken again after 7-10 days for precautionary measures.

Thank you!

[Sara_MHModerator]

As our members have stated, you have tested conclusively negative.  This is not an HIV concern and we wish you the best.  

***  thread closed ***

[RFGUSA]

The tests are conclusive despite the symptoms. Also you'd know if you had flu like symptoms over cold symptoms. Cold symptoms btw are but ARS symptoms but flu symptoms are. Flu symptoms are just a whole lot worse. High fever, massive body aches, diarrhea, the whole shebang. I'd think the "only test after the symptoms ars gone" thing is limited to the 3rd gen test that does not detect HIV antigens and waits on you to finish seroconversion before it can detect antibodies.

[TalkToMe01]

Thank you for answrering. The test that was mentioned in the article that I read was a DUO test. This is the same as the 4th gen cmia that looks for both p24 and antibodies, right? I think it was Dr. Sean from Freedom Health who mentioned that to be on the side of caution, they will recommend another DUO after 7-10 days if a person tests negative but has signs of ARS. Also, Dr. Hook from this site mentioned that if a person has signs of ARS, then they will test positive after two weeks (or a little less). These two doctors, in my understanding are top HIV experts. Their statements, in some way, kind of contradict the results of my tests. I had a cmia at 6 weeks but the "cold" signs started a few days before and the other signs started cropping up in the succeeding days. Following the good doctors' statements, then my cmia does not seem completely conclusive at 6 weeks. I did a 3rd gen finger prick antibody test at 7 weeks because I was so worried but I'm not sure if I can take any comfort in that.

[RFGUSA]

Dr Sean was referring to a whole body rash, high fever, and very sore throat when he mentioned retesting with symptoms. And Dr. HHH was referring to a 3rd gen test when he said that about the ARS symptoms.

[TalkToMe01]

Do you think my cold signs do not warrant another test and that the 6 week cmia is conclusive? The cough has been ongoing for more than a week and started after 5 weeks of the sexual incident. I would have not worried about it so much except that after that, other "signs" started cropping up within days of each other (slightly sore throat, the "rash" and flushed look of my chest, headache, feeling feverish). I'm worried that my tests did not show accurate results because I took them while I wasn't experiencing any signs yet and hence, nothing can be detected by the tests.

[RFGUSA]

Yes. But you're concerned about your possible seroconversion. If you were HIV + and the symptoms you experienced were a seroconversion, you'd already have detectable antigens because your body was already starting to develop antibodies.

Also antigen developmen post 3 weeks is a very conservative estimate.

[TalkToMe01]

Is it possible that at 6 weeks my antigens and antibody levels were both not detectable since I was seroconverting (hence the symptoms)?

Also, I've only been on this site for a day but I saw one user, HELPME21 and she tested negative at 6 weeks and positive at 7 months. Not sure what type of test she took. Her results are particularly scary because everybody on here seems cofident that a test at 6-8 weeks is a good indication of your status and that a 4-week 4th generation is conclusive.

[RFGUSA]

I'm fairly sure helpme21 took a 3rd gen test since it was back in '07.

Also that was a very controversial post if you look at the comment people were questioning her story. (Her age being the thing most people questioned.)

A similar user MACKIA had a similar story but users found out hed apparently been banned from other HIVAIDS forums.

No. It wouldnt be possible since if you were HIV+ you'd have to have one the other or both in your system after antigens are developed. You can't have neither.