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Test result
Hi:
I haw a question about my test result. I'm a 35 year old guy
In Nov 2007, I went to a female CSW in hong kong and had protected oral and fingered her a little. No intercourse at all.
I was very worried afterwards and got the following tests, when I was back in the US
- 20 days: oraquick in NYC and NAT that both came up negative. NY health services said the NAT was good at 16 days post exposure
- 30 days, I had a DNA PCR with Lab Corp and was also negative
- 2 month and 3 month: had oraquick tests in NY were also negative
So I sort of put it behind me. Then I moved to Hong Kong
In the mean time, no exposure at all as I have not had sex with anyone.
At 18 months, tested HIV 1/2 ab combo in hong kong and was negative
Then a year ago, at 30 months, I was in China and had a quick HIV test at a doctor's officebut it came slightly positive. I was shocked and so quickly returned to HK and had a HIV immuno fluorescence test done at a very reputable hospital, and it came back negative. They said this is like western blot so
The doctor told me not to worry bc the test says I am ok, negative.
Should I get retested again? It is now 41 months but somehow i started worrying again? Did I have risks to begin with?
I know it might be my mind that is running like mad. But can use your advice. Thank you so much.
I haw a question about my test result. I'm a 35 year old guy
In Nov 2007, I went to a female CSW in hong kong and had protected oral and fingered her a little. No intercourse at all.
I was very worried afterwards and got the following tests, when I was back in the US
- 20 days: oraquick in NYC and NAT that both came up negative. NY health services said the NAT was good at 16 days post exposure
- 30 days, I had a DNA PCR with Lab Corp and was also negative
- 2 month and 3 month: had oraquick tests in NY were also negative
So I sort of put it behind me. Then I moved to Hong Kong
In the mean time, no exposure at all as I have not had sex with anyone.
At 18 months, tested HIV 1/2 ab combo in hong kong and was negative
Then a year ago, at 30 months, I was in China and had a quick HIV test at a doctor's officebut it came slightly positive. I was shocked and so quickly returned to HK and had a HIV immuno fluorescence test done at a very reputable hospital, and it came back negative. They said this is like western blot so
The doctor told me not to worry bc the test says I am ok, negative.
Should I get retested again? It is now 41 months but somehow i started worrying again? Did I have risks to begin with?
I know it might be my mind that is running like mad. But can use your advice. Thank you so much.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Repetative anxiety driven questions are not permitted. "That will be all for this thread" means what it says. Re-read my previous replies, concentrate, believe what you see, and act on my advice. Do not be tempted to start a new thread with the same questions; it would be deletd without reply (and without refund of the posting fee).
Hi doctor
Sorry to ask. I was wondering the chance of a false negative in the most recent test? Or am I just over thinking because I had 3 test at 3, 18, and 31 months saying negative, which out proves the slight positive test (one in china before the most recent test)? Plus the exposure was a no risk exposure with protected oral and fingering.
Thank you. I am just trying to put all the test results together. I am in a committed relationship now and do not want to expose her, if I must worry.
Thank you.
Sorry to ask. I was wondering the chance of a false negative in the most recent test? Or am I just over thinking because I had 3 test at 3, 18, and 31 months saying negative, which out proves the slight positive test (one in china before the most recent test)? Plus the exposure was a no risk exposure with protected oral and fingering.
Thank you. I am just trying to put all the test results together. I am in a committed relationship now and do not want to expose her, if I must worry.
Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The result is 100% reliable. The same is true for all negatie HIV tests done more than 6-8 weeks after the last possible exposure.
Read my reply above, concentrate, and drop this whole business. You don't have HIV. Believe it and move on. If you cannot, it indicates a need for professional mental health care to figure out why you have trouble accepting such strong scientific evidence and repeated reasoned reassurance from several sources.
That will be all for this thread.
Read my reply above, concentrate, and drop this whole business. You don't have HIV. Believe it and move on. If you cannot, it indicates a need for professional mental health care to figure out why you have trouble accepting such strong scientific evidence and repeated reasoned reassurance from several sources.
That will be all for this thread.
Hi doctor
Really appreciate your helping me through this.
The last test I had, at 31 months post exposure and immediately after the slightly positive test result in China, was actually just a HIV 1/2 a&b combo with p24 antigen test. How reliable is this result? It's not the immune fluorescence test.
Much appreciate your help.
Really appreciate your helping me through this.
The last test I had, at 31 months post exposure and immediately after the slightly positive test result in China, was actually just a HIV 1/2 a&b combo with p24 antigen test. How reliable is this result? It's not the immune fluorescence test.
Much appreciate your help.
Hi Doctor:
Thank you for your advice and caring thoughts. I don't know why but I have been worrying a lot about this in the last 2-3 days, and for no good reason.
Just now I went to the hospital where I had my last HIV test (1 and 2 a/b combo with P24) and requested a hard copy of the negative test result. It made me feel better to see it in writing, to know that it's real, however irrational this is.
Logically I know there was no risk, and so I am negative and do not need to test. but somehow my mind keeps racing.
So at the hospital, I also asked to see a doctor and requested referral for mental health help. Will try to see doctors there in the next few days. In the mean time, I will stop visiting all the sites to try to dig up information.
Thank you again for your kind thoughts. I know I don't need to retest, and instead need to get help. Will stay away now ...
Thank you for your advice and caring thoughts. I don't know why but I have been worrying a lot about this in the last 2-3 days, and for no good reason.
Just now I went to the hospital where I had my last HIV test (1 and 2 a/b combo with P24) and requested a hard copy of the negative test result. It made me feel better to see it in writing, to know that it's real, however irrational this is.
Logically I know there was no risk, and so I am negative and do not need to test. but somehow my mind keeps racing.
So at the hospital, I also asked to see a doctor and requested referral for mental health help. Will try to see doctors there in the next few days. In the mean time, I will stop visiting all the sites to try to dig up information.
Thank you again for your kind thoughts. I know I don't need to retest, and instead need to get help. Will stay away now ...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
Perhaps you already understand that the main problem here is your unnecessary anxiety over a non-risky exposure, which led you to have more HIV testing than needed. The exposure carried no risk for HIV, which is rarely if ever transmitted by UNprotected oral sex and certainly cannot be transmitted by oral sex with a condom. If that was your only potential exposure, you should not have been tested at all for HIV, and you certainly should not have continued to have any tests after the negative result at 3 months.
All the rapid HIV tests occasionally give weakly false positive results. Had you not had the repeat test you did not need, you would not have been faced with the additional anxiety of that aberrant result. This is one of the main reasons we advise people at no risk of HIV to not be tested, and to not have any additional tests after they have had a definitive result. Nobody should have extra HIV tests they don't need! Although such false results are uncommon, probably you will now agree it would have been best if that test had not been done.
In any case, that test clearly was false; the subsequent test in Hong Kong prove you do not have HIV. In other words, your HK doctor is exactly right. You do not need any further HIV tests. Please don't have another one unless and until you have other exposures that put you at risk (which certainly will not include any oral sex events).
I hope this helps settle your fears. I also hope your story also serves as a warning to other anxious people with low risk exposures, or who have trouble believing their negative test results. Don't have extra HIV tests you don't need -- it isn't worth risking the kind of trouble described here.
Anyway, stop worrying about it. All is well.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Perhaps you already understand that the main problem here is your unnecessary anxiety over a non-risky exposure, which led you to have more HIV testing than needed. The exposure carried no risk for HIV, which is rarely if ever transmitted by UNprotected oral sex and certainly cannot be transmitted by oral sex with a condom. If that was your only potential exposure, you should not have been tested at all for HIV, and you certainly should not have continued to have any tests after the negative result at 3 months.
All the rapid HIV tests occasionally give weakly false positive results. Had you not had the repeat test you did not need, you would not have been faced with the additional anxiety of that aberrant result. This is one of the main reasons we advise people at no risk of HIV to not be tested, and to not have any additional tests after they have had a definitive result. Nobody should have extra HIV tests they don't need! Although such false results are uncommon, probably you will now agree it would have been best if that test had not been done.
In any case, that test clearly was false; the subsequent test in Hong Kong prove you do not have HIV. In other words, your HK doctor is exactly right. You do not need any further HIV tests. Please don't have another one unless and until you have other exposures that put you at risk (which certainly will not include any oral sex events).
I hope this helps settle your fears. I also hope your story also serves as a warning to other anxious people with low risk exposures, or who have trouble believing their negative test results. Don't have extra HIV tests you don't need -- it isn't worth risking the kind of trouble described here.
Anyway, stop worrying about it. All is well.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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