[Question #10240] Question 10193 - follow up
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24 months ago
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Sorry to be back. Last time ever. Promise.
I plan to test at 14 days (tomorrow) with an RNA Test. Then a 4th gen on the 31st day.
Question 1: since my last hiv test 6 months ago, I did start taking TRT (testosterone cypionate) and an estrogen blocker (anastrozole). Been on it for 3 months. Should I worry that either of these will affect an hiv test (4th gen or RNA), or any STD test for that matter? I.e. false positive / negative.
Question 2: do ya'll still advise against HIV RNA tests due to false positives. I guess there is no confirmation test at that time to rule out HIV if a false positive.
Thank You, I wanna put this all behind me as quick as possible. Also, I searched previous questions in regards to TRT, but found nothing. Hence, why I'm asking.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
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I'm sorry you're back, but it seems you are too. I reviewed your recent discussion with Dr. Hook and agree with all he said.
Why are you being tested for HIV? Your partner was tested after your exposure and negative for HIV and other STDs, proving you were not exposed. It's a waste of time and money.
Q1: Since you don't need testing and could not possibly have been infected, this is irrelevant. But in any case, there are no medical conditions, drugs, or other factors that have any effect on the reliability of HIV testing. That was once a concern with the earliest HIV blood tests, but not for the last 20 years. Your drugs can have no effect on the test results you do not need.
Q2: False positive tests are no longer a problem with RNA testing. But still it's a pointless test, so this really doesn't matter. There is no chance you have HIV.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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24 months ago
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Thank You for the response. I'll be the first to say I know I am irrational and my mind always goes to "worst case scenario".
Albeit my main concern is that she had sex ballpark 18-22 days before her hiv test, and I think I've read that 10-20 days post infection is when someone is "most infectious" and too early for the 4th gen test to pickup. So it's my better safe than sorry feeling. Maybe I'll just wait 42 days and take one test and be done with it. Thoughts?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
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Based on your own description of your partner ("middle class, with kids"), the statistical likelihood she had HIV was astronomically small, and that she could be in the window period even lower. You can and should safely assume she doesn't have HIV. But feel free to test if you like. If somehow I were in your situation, I wouldn't do it. That said, I'm not you -- and despite my assertive advice, we understand that some anxious persons are more reassured by negative test results than by professional opinion, no matter how expert. (We don't take it personally!). So it's up to you.---
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
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And by the way, if someone has acquired HIV but tests negative for HIV antigen (a component of the AgAb, "4th generation") test, they cannot yet transmit the virus. So even though it it theoretically possible your partner was incubating an HIV infection, her negative test two days after your exposure means she was not infectious at that time.---
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24 months ago
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Dr. Thank You for your responses. I DEFINITELY accept & respect your professional opinion.
Your last response calmed me down. But I asked the girl for a copy of her test results, and now she won't answer. :(
So I have to assume she never tested. I plan to test on day 28 or 29 with 4th gen. I'm on day 19 and only had kind of a dry cough. The statistics about black women and such higher rates of hiv has me worried. Thank You for all the advice and your professional opinions. Have a Blessed Day
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
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Depending in part how a request is made, being asked to give written evidence of being HIV negative after she assured you she tested negative could be considered insulting. I don't blame your partner from not answering and would not interpret that response as suggesting she didn't actually get tested.
Being worried about the fact that African Americans as a group have higher frequencies of HIV means little or nothing about the risk in any single person. Her own sexual behavior and test results obviously over rule her race/ethnicity.
Assuming you go ahead with testing, you can expect a negative result. Perhaps you'd also like to know that in the nearly 20 years of this and out preceding forum, with thousands of questions from persons worried about catching HIV, not one has yet reported they eventually tested positive. If and when it finally happens I'm confident it will be in someone with a real risk (like anal sex with a known infected partner) -- and not an essentially zero risk event like yours.
By the way, I see you initially asked about thyroid replacement therapy and possible effect on HIV or STD test results. Sorry I didn't address that until now. Don't worry about it: there are no medical treatments or medical conditions of any kind that have any effect on the reliability or timing of any HIV test. STD tests can be made negative by antibiotics that treat the infection, but TRT has no effect.
That concludes this thread. Please note the forum policy against repeated questions. This being your second about the same exposure, it should be your last. I hope the discussion has been helpful.
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