[Question #10474] This is a follow up to Question #10420

22 months ago

I know you told me based on the tests I did at labcorp, hiv foruth gen at 12 & 47 days, hiv rna pcr qualitative test with a limit detection 20 copies/ml at 14 days and all were negative. However, I contacted the person I had rough 15 minutes anal/oral sex with and they are refusing to do an hiv test which is making me think they had hiv. I can’t but stop thinking about how 7 days after this exposure I had a high fever, vomiting, nausea, fatigue and then rash aswell which are the same as hiv ARS symptoms. And today which is 2 months post expsure, I’m having rash on arms, hands and neck and feel low energetic all the time.

1) Can I 100% rule out hiv infection based on this information above I told you?

2) Is it possible to have hiv ARS symptoms and still test negative with hiv rna pcr test?

4)has it occurred that with the tests I took and the timeline I took them at gives false negative?

5) why labcorp says hiv foruth gen test conclusive at 3 months?

22 months ago

6) do the viral load of hiv can be less than 20 copies/ml at 2 weeks post exposure and that could have resulted in a false negative hiv rna pcr test?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

22 months ago

Please re-read your other thread. All the answers to these questions are there.

Your negative HIV tests prove that HIV is not a possible cause of the symptoms you have had, or any others you may develop in the future (assuming no new high risk exposures).

1) Can I 100% rule out hiv infection based on this information above I told you? Yes.

2) Is it possible to have hiv ARS symptoms and still test negative with hiv rna pcr test? No.

4) has it occurred that with the tests I took and the timeline I took them at gives false negative? No, this has never happened (not counting persons taking HIV drugs for PEP that didn't work).

5) why labcorp says hiv foruth gen test conclusive at 3 months? If they say that, they have outdated and overly conservative advice.

6) do the viral load of hiv can be less than 20 copies/ml at 2 weeks post exposure and that could have resulted in a false negative hiv rna pcr test? No.

Do your best to accept the reasoned, science based advice you have had and stop worrying! The answers in your previous thread go into the reasons for these responses. Believe them.

By the way, each user may have only one account and username. Please use this one for any further questions you may have in the future, otherwise the question will be deleted without reply.

Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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22 months ago

Thank you so much, you have no idea how much you’re helping me!!! Ever since that incident I can’t let the thought of having those symptoms after a week of my exposure and always connect them to hiv. I wanted to let you know that during the time I was having those symptoms I tested negative for Covid, flu and many other viruses cuz I went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with “viral illness”. I was worried because they couldn’t figure out which virus was causing my symptoms and thought it could have been hiv.

1) my cbc and differential test result at that time of symptoms, the lymphocytes counts were significantly decreased and monocyte count were increased and had an enlarged liver? Is that common during the acute stage of hiv?

2) does hiv cause fatigue that lasts more than 2 months post exposure?

3) what should I do to move on from this stage?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

22 months ago

1) You don't have HIV, so the question is irrelevant. If you did, your CBC and liver problem would have no effect on testing for it.

2) Yes, of course HIV causes fatigue. So does almost every other infection plus innumerable non-infectious medical problems.

3) All we can do is give the reasoned, science based advice mentioned above. Inability to believe, understand and accept such reasoned information usually indicates an underlying psychological issue. Professional counseling might make sense. You could start by discussing it with your doctor.

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22 months ago

I apologise if my questions are repetitive, but ever since then I have been very anxious because the symptoms I experienced occurred exactly 1 week after my exposure and were align with the hiv ARS symptoms.

1) During that time, I was diagnosed with viral illness when I had those symptoms, should I worry because they did not know which virus exactly caused my illness?

2) do I need to retest at 90 days post exposure? If yes, what are the chances I see a positive result?

3)if I was very ill (bacterial infection) around the time I took my hiv combo and rna pcr tests and were on three different antibiotics, would that impact my test hiv test results?

4) does hiv cause acne breakouts?

5) is labcorp lab reliable and can I trust their results based on your knowledge?

22 months ago

6)is it true that co-infections such hepatitis c or other diseases when contracted at the same time with hiv can impact the tests results of hiv?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

22 months ago

1) Your negative test result proves your "viral illness" was not HIV or ARS, regardless of the symptoms it caused.

2) It is never necessary to test for HIV at 90 days; that's old news.

3) No medical conditions of any kind have any effect whatsoever on HIV test timing or reliability.

4) No.

5) Yes.

6) HCV might rarely do this but its ONLY sexual transmission scenario is traumatic (bloody) anal sex between men; without such contact you're not at risk for HCV sexually. If you want to be even more confident, have an HCV antibody test at the same time as any HIV test you do. If negative, it will mean your HIV test result valid and to be believed.

You've now used up the two follow-up exchanges included with each new question, so this thread is over. Repeated anxiety driven questions are not permitted; this must be your last forum question about your HIV worries and testing. Excessive questions are deleted without reply and without refund of the posting fee. Thank you for your understanding.

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