[Question #10963] HIV Exposure and Test Question
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18 months ago
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Good Afternoon,
On 1 September, I engaged in protected vaginal, and unprotected oral sex (both giving and recieving) with a friend of mine. To our knowledge, we don't think the condom broke.
No symptoms have been noticed, but out of an abundance of caution, we both had STD panels (all requiring blood testing) performed by our respective clinics. Given that i'm in the service, i recieved the Antigen-Antibody HIV1/2/O test.
To date, both of our tests have come back negative, as well as both of my oraquick antibody tests have comeback also negative.
However, I did that read that individuals who are potentially immunocompromised (I have developed a sort of bluish bump on my waist unrelated to any of this) may not test positive for antibodys until after the six months.
My questions are : Should I be concerned about my tests results potentially being false-negative?
Should I enquire about potentially receiving a NAT Test?
Given that everything including other STDs have been negative, should I just move on?
Thank you in advance!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
18 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your question. Any single encounter is relatively low risk- few women have HIV (or other STIs), and most single exposures to untreated HIV infected persons rarely lead to infection. If exposed to an infected partner the risk of acquiring HIV from a single unprotected vaginal sex encounter is less than 1 in 1000 and the risk from performing unprotected oral sex on an infected partner is less than 1 in 10,000. There is no known risk of acquiring HIV from receiving oral sex from an infected partner. In your case you used a condom for the vaginal exposure as well and so your risk for infection is close to zero. Your test results confirm that you were not infected. A negative 4th generation test such as the one you have any time more than 6 weeks after exposure provides definitive results.
You can be confident that you did not get HIV from the encounter you describe. You are in the clear and no further testing is needed..
I hope this information is helpful. Please don't worry. TIme to move forward. EWHJ
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18 months ago
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I follow on question I do have is:
How common is it for antibodies to develop after 6 months? I only ask because I am concerned about this bump potentially being cancerous , in turn leading to my tests now being false negative.
Furthermore, is it possible for antigens to remain in the blood after the 90 days? Even if antibodies aren’t present?
Thank you again sir!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
18 months ago
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If a person with HIV does not develop antibodies by 8 weeks, they will not. Believe your results. You have proven you do not have HIV.
Same is true for antigens. If not detected, in this case by 6 weeks, they are not going to appear.
Please don't worry. EWH
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18 months ago
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Sir,
So if I am following correctly, then I really have nothing to worry about don't I? It turns out that the bump we nothing more than a hematoma.
But in terms of antigens and antibodies, there can be no antibodies if antigens are NOT present? Or how does that work?
I apologize for the repetitive questions, given the nature of this sort of issue, I have taken it quite seriously.
But still, thank you for answering all my questions.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
18 months ago
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Indeed, these are repetitive questions.
Results of HIV tests taken more than 6 weeks after an encounter are conclusive. In infected pers0ons antibodies to the virus ALWAYS appear before 6 weeks have passed since an encounter and the p24 HIV antigen is ALWAYS present before the passage of 6 weeks. Therefore tests taken beyond that point are conclusive and, when negative such as yours are PROVE that you were not infected.
Similarly, if your sex partner's tests are negative at or after the time you had sex, she cannot have passed the virus on to you. If more than 6 weeks have passed since sex, then she has also proven she does not have HIV.
The bump you have noticed is not due to HIV. I have not examined you and do not provide medical advice over the internet but you can be sure it is not due to HIV.
We provide up to three responses to each client's questions- this completes this thread which will be closed shortly. Please do not worry about HIV from the encounter you have described. EWH
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