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RNA PCR testing clarification
Dear Dr.,
I had a girlfriend for about 6 months from the end of April until the beginning of November. She was Jamaican female and I am a white male. I was having unprotected vaginal sex with her because she showed me her HIV test as well as other STDs which were negative like mine . I heard she cheated on me when we were together. I was afraid after that. The last time we slept unprotected was early in the a.m. on October 31st. I had sex with her again on November 6th or 7th (using a condom). I got an RNA quant by RT - PCR test (using the Roche COBAS) on 12/4/10. This was about almost 5 weeks since we slept unprotected and about 4 weeks since we slept protected. My results were in the normal range. My HIV-1 viral copy was <20 copies/ML and my HIV - 1 viral log was <1.301 log copy/ML. I also got an oral test for antibodies yesterday 12/11/10 which was non reactive (negative for HIV 1 and HIV 2). This was very close to 6 weeks after sleeping unprotected. I also got my std tests (for gonorrhea, clamidia, hepatitis) done at 3 weeks after unprotected sex. I am not sure if they did the herpes test unless that was the test that said RPR.They were all negative as well. I don't see any sores or anything on my penis.
1) Having a negative RNA PCR test and negative antibody test at the time frame I listed above, is that good enough to rule out HIV infection? Some people on here say that the RNA PCR test is not a stand alone test and that it should be backed up by an antibody test. I did both. My doc said there is no need to repeat the RNA test since it was negative.
2) Should I get re - tested for the herpes and the other STDs after 6 weeks rather than just 3 weeks (like I did)? That's what the lab said to do.
3) Do I need any further testing? At 2, 3, or 6 months?
4) My doc said that HIV is hard for a man to get if he doesn't have any open cuts or sores on his penis (through vaginal sex). or unless he is having rough sex. Is that true?
Thank you.
I had a girlfriend for about 6 months from the end of April until the beginning of November. She was Jamaican female and I am a white male. I was having unprotected vaginal sex with her because she showed me her HIV test as well as other STDs which were negative like mine . I heard she cheated on me when we were together. I was afraid after that. The last time we slept unprotected was early in the a.m. on October 31st. I had sex with her again on November 6th or 7th (using a condom). I got an RNA quant by RT - PCR test (using the Roche COBAS) on 12/4/10. This was about almost 5 weeks since we slept unprotected and about 4 weeks since we slept protected. My results were in the normal range. My HIV-1 viral copy was <20 copies/ML and my HIV - 1 viral log was <1.301 log copy/ML. I also got an oral test for antibodies yesterday 12/11/10 which was non reactive (negative for HIV 1 and HIV 2). This was very close to 6 weeks after sleeping unprotected. I also got my std tests (for gonorrhea, clamidia, hepatitis) done at 3 weeks after unprotected sex. I am not sure if they did the herpes test unless that was the test that said RPR.They were all negative as well. I don't see any sores or anything on my penis.
1) Having a negative RNA PCR test and negative antibody test at the time frame I listed above, is that good enough to rule out HIV infection? Some people on here say that the RNA PCR test is not a stand alone test and that it should be backed up by an antibody test. I did both. My doc said there is no need to repeat the RNA test since it was negative.
2) Should I get re - tested for the herpes and the other STDs after 6 weeks rather than just 3 weeks (like I did)? That's what the lab said to do.
3) Do I need any further testing? At 2, 3, or 6 months?
4) My doc said that HIV is hard for a man to get if he doesn't have any open cuts or sores on his penis (through vaginal sex). or unless he is having rough sex. Is that true?
Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
HIV is never, never, never transmitted by handshaking or similar non-intimate contact with other people. If the sorts of cuts and exposures you describe could transmit HIV, it would be a hundred more times more common than it is and would not be classified as an STD.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum.
This sounds like a zero risk situation with respect to HIV. Even cheating with other partners, the likelihood your partner had HIV is very low. A single antibody test was all you needed -- but in any case, the negative results on both the antibody and PCR test prove for sure you weren't infected.
1,3) Either the antibody or PCR test alone, at the times you did them, would have picked up over 99% of all infections. With both tests negative, it is 100% certain you were not infected. Your doctor is correct; you don't need any further thesting for HIV, at any time -- unless of course you have future high risk sexual exposures.
2) Your gonorrhea and chlamydia tests are reliable at 3 weeks. RPR is a syphilis test, but it takes up to 6 weeks to become positive. If you haven't had symptoms of syphilis (usually a sore on the penis), it is very unlikely you were infected. But for 100% assurance, have another syphilis test 6 weeks after the last exposure. I don't recommend HSV testing in this situation, except in people having symptoms that suggest they caught herpes. But if you insist on having blood test proof you didn't catch HSV-2, you could have a single blood test about 12 weeks after your last sexual exposure.
4) "Hard to get" is a relative term. Penile sores (e.g. herpes) increase the risk, but I'm not aware of any data on "rough" sex. When a woman has HIV, the average transmission risk from unprotected vaginal sex is roughly one chance for every 2,000 exposures. That's why many spouses of HIV infected persons never catch the virus.
So all is well -- for sure you weren't infected with HIV, and almost certainly not with any other STD.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
This sounds like a zero risk situation with respect to HIV. Even cheating with other partners, the likelihood your partner had HIV is very low. A single antibody test was all you needed -- but in any case, the negative results on both the antibody and PCR test prove for sure you weren't infected.
1,3) Either the antibody or PCR test alone, at the times you did them, would have picked up over 99% of all infections. With both tests negative, it is 100% certain you were not infected. Your doctor is correct; you don't need any further thesting for HIV, at any time -- unless of course you have future high risk sexual exposures.
2) Your gonorrhea and chlamydia tests are reliable at 3 weeks. RPR is a syphilis test, but it takes up to 6 weeks to become positive. If you haven't had symptoms of syphilis (usually a sore on the penis), it is very unlikely you were infected. But for 100% assurance, have another syphilis test 6 weeks after the last exposure. I don't recommend HSV testing in this situation, except in people having symptoms that suggest they caught herpes. But if you insist on having blood test proof you didn't catch HSV-2, you could have a single blood test about 12 weeks after your last sexual exposure.
4) "Hard to get" is a relative term. Penile sores (e.g. herpes) increase the risk, but I'm not aware of any data on "rough" sex. When a woman has HIV, the average transmission risk from unprotected vaginal sex is roughly one chance for every 2,000 exposures. That's why many spouses of HIV infected persons never catch the virus.
So all is well -- for sure you weren't infected with HIV, and almost certainly not with any other STD.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Thank you again!! I do suffer from OCD unfortunately and it drives me crazy cause I'm so scared of HIV. Thank you Doc :)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Irrational fear of contamination sometimes is an early symptom of potentially disabling mental health disorder. If your fear continues despite this reassurance, of if you also are (or become) fearful of other kinds of contamination, consider professional mental health attention. For an example of how bad these disorders can become, rent "The Aviator", the Leonardo DiCaprio biopic about Howard Hughes.
Thank you for responding. As you can see I am extremely afraid of the HIV virus. That's why I worried if I could of got it from hand shaking, my cut rubbed against their cut or if their cut bled into mine (in jiu jitsu). Now that you made it clear that it is not transmitted in any of these ways, I want to thank you again. It is a relief. Have a nice holiday!!!!!
Thank you for your help doc. I just had one quick question I forgot to ask you... I train mixed martial arts (jiu jitsu) and I had a slight cut on my pointer finger (by yhe cuticle) yesterday. It was due to skin peeling off. It was bleeding a little but not gushing out blood or anything. I did shake hands with a bunch of people after class and I'm worried if god for bid they had a slight cut and their blood mixed with mine and now have HIV (assuming they were HIV infected)? Also I saw one guys chin was bleeding and I'm worried if god for bid his blood dripped into my cut and now have HIV? Is there any risk of catching HIV in these situations or do the cuts basically have to be large (like an incision) for both people where blood may get into the body? Please advise. Thank you
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