[Question #10110] Question

Avatar photo
25 months ago
Hi doctors,

Thank you for still providing this service. I think you still have access to my previous question about my HIV test on May 3, 2021 about an exposure in january 2020. I was wondering if i can still be sure that I didn't get HIV from the exposure in january 2020, even if i did have (almost no symptoms/symptomless) SARS-CoV-2/covid19 at the time of my HIV antibody-only test? 

I was reading online (i know, horrible idea, couldn't help it)  about SARS-CoV-2/covid-19 and HIV testing. I read that sometimes having SARS-CoV-2/covid-19 while you are getting tested for HIV can result in a false positive HIV test. Anxiety got me and i got worried that maybe having SARS-CoV-2/covid-19 at the time of my HIV antibody-only test could result in a false negative HIV antibody-only test? I would also like to mention that I wasn't vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2/covid-19 at the time of my hiv test (may 2021).

Could you maybe clarify?

I guess my main question is this:
1) Can I still be 100% certain that I didn't get HIV from my exposure in january 2020? 
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
25 months ago
Welcome back to the Forum.  I'm pleased that you find it helpful.  I also understand that your non-consensual January 2020 exposure was traumatic and am not surprised that you continue to reflect upon it.  That said, I hope that my response will relieve you of at least on of your HIV-related concerns surrounding that event- you can believe your test results and do not have HIV.  Let's review your circumstance:

1.  Your non-consensual exposure was statistically low risk.  Most people, even people who do such things, do not have HIV.
2.  In the unlikely event that this persons did have HIV, your risk of infection was low- fewer that 1 in 1000 unprotected exposures to infected persons lead to infection.  In other words, IF he had HIV (unlikely), chances are more than 99.9% that you would not be infected.
3.  You had a negative test for HIV antibodies at a time when your results were reliable.  While COVID-19 is occasionally associated with falsely positive test results, it is not associated with falsely negative results.  

Bottom line- believe your test results.  In addition, as tempting as it is, I urge you to stay off the internet regarding this topic.  It is unreliable as much of what is there is taken out of context, out of date, or just plain wrong.  EWH
---
Avatar photo
25 months ago
Hi Dr. Hook,

Thank you for your kind response. You're correct in saying that it's something that I keep reflecting on. There are times that I am calm and sometimes I freak out. 

I was quite calm after your answer last week, I understand that even with the abnormal blood test results, my negative hiv antibody test is correct and I am truly HIV-negative. Now i'm worried again because I just got diagnosed by my doctor with oral thrush. The thrush started under my tongue and spread to the inside of my lips (so in front of my teeth). I wasn't worried because of your advice in december but then i looked on the internet (yes same mistake).. My doctor didn't seem too worried, but he found it weird that it started under my tongue and then spread to the inside of my lips. 

Can i still be completely certain that I don't have HIV? I really need to hear it from you. I promise I will put all of this behind me then and that I won't bother you again. 

Thank you




Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
25 months ago
Welcome back. The internet is not your friend her.  When persons get thrush and look it up on the internet, the first thing they see in their search is HIV. The fact however is that when thrush occurs in HIV the disease is chronic, typically having been present for years.  In addition, most people with thrush do not have HIV but have other problems including having recently taken antibiotics, diabetes or, in most cases, just plain bad luck which I suspect is the case for you.  

I encourage you to have confidence in your test results and to put this concern behind you.  I also encourage you to stay off the internet-it's a great means of communication but a poor source of health related information.  EWH
---
Avatar photo
24 months ago
Hello dr. Hook,

I'd like to give an update. Doctor prescribed me daktarin oral gel to use for seven days. My mouth improved but it wasn't gone. Dr gave me another prescription for a mouth wash with nystatin and antibacterial stuff and other ingredients. I used that for seven days, still not completely gone but a lot better. Got another prescription from my doctor from the same thing but never got around to actually get the medecine. That was this monday.   now it's as good as gone. 

On a sidenote, I suddenly remembered I had taken a blood test in May 2022. I had a positive covid-19 antigen test about two weeks before this (at this time I was already vaccinated against covid-19 three times, the last covid-19 vaccination i had was in december 2021). I had taken a covid antigen self test before going to my appointment for this blood test (so about two weeks after my positive covid19 antigen test) but never looked at the result so I don't know if it was positive OR negative for covid antigen.  This was a routine (i guess) blood test because my dad advised me to get it done(im not supernervous for a blood test if it is just routine)During my very anxious period of the last three weeks I decided to look up the results. As you can imagine my leukocytes, neutrophils, crp and some other things they tested were still pretty high because of the covid i had two weeks earlier. They didn't test for covid19 antibodies. But they did test for HIV with a antibody-only test ! I don't remember asking. I don't think I asked. Hiv antibody test result was again negative! 

So all good news right? I'm sorry about my last post, was written while I was very anxious. I got it in my head that SARS-CoV-2 could mask HIV antibodies. 
I really appreciate all your advice, I believe my negative HIV-antibody result and i am going to move forward without worry. 

Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
Thank you for the follow-up.  I'm glad that your mouth has cleared up.  Sometimes these things do take time and/or multiple treatments.

This is god news about your HIV antibody test and provides further support that you do not have HIV.  I entirely endorse your plans to move forward, putting these concerns behind you.  I hope that our input has helped you to do so.

This thread will be closed shortly.  Again, we appreciate your follow-up and are delighted to hear that you will be moving forward.  Take care.  EWH
---
Avatar photo
24 months ago
Hi doctor,

Thanks for answering. Just a last quick question, since english isnt my first language. You say that the second negative HIV antibody-only test provides further support that you do not have HIV. So you mean that the second negative hiv antibody test proves that I am HIV negative? I'm a bit confused by the word support.

Thanks, sorry for bothering you! 
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
24 months ago
Yes, it proves you did not acquire HIV.  

This will complete this thread which will soon be closed.  EWH 
---