Share IV Injection

[karainsomnia]

Dear Doc,

Although I am educated person, I made the biggest mistake 3 months ago when I was extremely drunk. First time in my life I used IV drug injection and it was used before me. I do have no idea whether the guy was positive or negative before me. As I said it was my first experience, I even do not SMOKE and am very healthy person.

Then, I haven been tested 5 times: The last was 3 months after the exposure. No symptoms at all.

At 4 week: HIV DUO (4th generation)-Negative
At 6 week: HIV DUO (4th generation)-Negative
At 8 week: HIV Insti -Negative
At 12 week: HIV DUO (4th generation)-Negative
At 12,5 week: Insti 3r generation -Negative

Questions:
1-Is the window period for sharing equipment and unprotected sex same? (3 months?)
2-Do I need more tests because it was the highest risk activity?
3-I am married. How about unprotected sex with my wife?


Thank you Doctor

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You came here for advice and reassurance and I gave it.  Accept it or not, I don't care, but this isn't a debate and I have nothing more to say.  We don't get into online debates, but I very much doubt any truly reliable experts believe that having HIV and HCV together makes any difference in test reliability.

This thread is over; keep it up and the entire thread will be deleted.  And do not be tempted to start a new thread with the same questions; it would be deleted without reply and without refund of the posting fee.  Good bye.

[karainsomnia]

Doctor, I am going crazy.

Some MDs say coinfection (HCV and HIV) may delay HIV seroconversion so a test at 6 month is warranted.

It is obviously possible to be infected by HCV and HIV at the same time but is it possible to be tested negative at 15 weeks but tested positive later with modern tests?

Regards,

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You are asking the same question with different words.  I have not changed my mind.  The window period is the same regardless of the exposure.  You don't have HIV.  Believe it.

[karainsomnia]

Doctor, it was the most terrible period of my life. I even thought suicide first time in my life.

You probably get angry but a final question, then I move. I promise.

So, the window period for all the incidents (unprotected sex, blood transfusion, injection poke etc.) is same and independent of how risky the incident is. Right?

I promise, I will move after your answer.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

You had accurate replies on the community forum.  In judging whether or not someone has HIV, the lab tests always overrule exposure history and symptoms -- as long as testing is done sufficiently long after exposure.  Your test results prove you were not infected.

1) The 3 month window is for the antibody-only tests.  For duo, the window is 4 weeks.  (Even for the antibody tests, the true window is around 6 weeks, despite common advice about 3 months.)

2) No, you do not need any more testing.

3) You can safely have unprotected sex with your wife.  You could have done so after the negative test at 4 weeks.

So all is well.  You can stop worrying about your lapse in judgment.  I hope this helps you move on with your life.

Regards--  HHH, MD