[Question #10976] All About Biotin

18 months ago

I am sorry I am back. My prior question describes my risk. Fingering with minor nail bed / cuticle nick and received oral. I was given antibiotics for testicle pain.

I was able to get HER tested with a 4th gen rapid test 17 days post risk. The results were negative. She states her last risk was at the end of July 2023.

Symptoms

Papillae on tongue on back hurt and recently have bled when scraping. Yesterday My oral surgeon confirmed it’s not thrush, probable trauma.

Yesterday (25 days post risk) minor sore throat. Today gone.

I tested hiv neg Wednesday, 24 days post risk. (4th gen rapid test)

1. She took 30 mcg of biotin approximately 8 hours prior to test. Any affect on her results?

2. Is her test conclusive. Her last risk was in July. Regardless of (biotin 30mcg) ?

3. Would the test she took be so far along after her last risk (7 months) that it couldn’t affect the results of her recent test because there would be so much antibody or antigens?

4. Do my symptoms sound like Ars?

5. How accurate was my 24day 4th gen negative?

6. Can I move on and sleep with my regular partner?

Thank you.

18 months ago

7. Would the 30 mcg of biotin be to small a dose to affect the test?

8. Would the 8 hour delay from when she took the biotin make its affect not concerning?

9. How much biotin can you take that won’t affect tests?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

18 months ago

I'm also sorry you're having trouble with this after the reasoned, science based advice you had from Dr. Hook. I'm taking this question, but I reviewed your recently closed discussion. I agree with everything Dr. Hook said. You had a zero risk sexual exposure and didn't need testing for HIV and should not be at all worriedd about the results so far, or about your symptoms -- especially since you now know your partner tested negative so you could not have been exposed to HIV.

1,2,7,8,9. The biotin business about HIV testing is mostly an urban myth. The small amounts used in most conditioning programs have no effect on test reliability. Your partner's biotin makes no difference; her negative test result is reliable. Probably even large doses of biotin make no difference, but certainly 30 mcg is meaningless. Read the discussion just a few days ago in question 10966.

3. Once someone has HIV, testing is positive for life. There is no such thing as tests becoming negative after a few weeks or months.

4. No, your symptoms are not typical for HIV.

5. Your negative test at 24 days is 95% reliable. It is 100% reliable in proving your symptoms are not due to HIV.

6. Yes, you can safely continue unprotected sex with your regular partner. There was never any reason not to do so.

Please do your best to stop worrying about a no risk event and your HIV test results. There is no possibility you have it.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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18 months ago

Thanks for your response.

My risk was fingering with a nick cuticle and a bj. I also have hpv but no outbreak.

A I mentioned I had testicle pain, I was given 1 pill of erythromycin & 10 days of cefuroxime. I still had pain so I was given 10 days of levofloxacin. Finished this Sunday.

Last week my tongue bled when I used tongue scraper. Specialist said it wasnt thrush. This past friday I had a minor sore throat. It was gone by Saturday. Last night my tongue bled a little with scraping, today it hasnt yet.

This AM I went & had a rapid hiv 4th gen test. It was 30 days post risk & 4 days after sore throat started and 5 or 6 days since the tongue issues started.

1. Does todays neg test rule out ARS from HIV 1 or 2?

2. The gal I am concerned about tested negative last week (she claims 7 months from last risk). As I mentioned she took 30 mcg of biotin 8 hours prior to her test. This amount should not be of concern? Is that because its so little or because she is so far along since her risk that there would just be to much antibody anti gen. You previosuly said it was a meaningless amount.

* I ask this because in the thread you told me to read you said you werent sure how much is a regular doe of biotin. Although the amount was much larger.

3. Could my tongue issues be from the antibiotics?

4. Can I go back to my partner and have unprotected sex?

Thanks for this service!! It means alot.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

18 months ago

I knew the nature of your exposure.

It is not possible to have HIV symptoms and a negative HIV test. That is, your negative test result PROVES your sympoms are nto due to HIV.

1. "Does todays neg test rule out ARS from HIV 1 or 2?" Yes.

2. "The gal I am concerned about...." 30 mcg is a meaningless amount; if there are problems at all, it is with doses like 1200 mcg. Her negative test is accurate.

3. "Could my tongue issues be from the antibiotics?" Antibiotics can result in coated tongue, although I cannot say if this is the cause in your case. But for the reasons above, for sure it isn't HIV.

4. "Can I go back to my partner and have unprotected sex?" Yes. You should never have stopped having sex with your regular partner.

Thanks for the thanks. I'm glad to have helped.

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18 months ago

Thank you Doctor Handsfield. My last questions are as follows:

1. If I have to return to my doctor for my tongue, and if he thinks its thrush can I still be comfortable moving on with my regular partner?

2. Does having HPV increase the risk of acquiring hiv? Please explain.

3. When is hiv-2 ruled out?

Thanks for your time and simplified explanations!

18 months ago

Lastly could you explain why if I have tongue infection / thrush why i shouldnt worry and can go back to my partner. Sorry just nervous.

18 months ago

Doctor,

Does a coated tongue make it more likely to bleed when scraped. It does hurt. Ill try and relax going forward.

18 months ago

I meant to say my tongue does not hurt today. Sorry for the confusion. This will be my last post ever.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

18 months ago

1. You should be continuing sex with your partner no matter what. NONE of this even hints at HIV!!!

2. HPV has little if any effect on HIV susceptibility. Other STDs cause inflammation, which can elevate HIV risk if exposed. HPV causes little or no inflammation.

3. HIV2 is ruled out by negative AgAb (4th generation) testing 6+ weeks after exposure. HIV2 is almost absent in the US anyway.

Your tongue: Repeat question, answered above. I have no way of knowing the cause of your tongue problem. It isn't HIV. I'm not an expert in coated tongue and have never seen a case that bled. I always advise patients to avoid tongue scraping anyway. It's unnecessary and won't help in any way.

Indeed this will be your last question, at least on these topics. We do not accept repeated questions on the same topic or exposure. This being your second, future ones may receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is intended to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Such questions also have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Thanks for your understanding. I do hope the two discussions help you move on without further worry about HIV. Best wishes and stay safe.

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