[Question #11000] Hiv-2 Query
17 months ago
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Hi doctor hunter,
I need your help here.
The only mistake i did is costing me my life.
Recently before 70 days I had an exposure with an african commercial sex worker in india.
After the exposure , I had done below tests.
Day 11 - HIV 1 Rna pcr - sensitivity - 30UI/ml
Day 11 - HIV 2 Rna pcr - sensitivity - 100UI/ml
Day 35 - HIV 1 Rna pcr - sensitivity - 120UI/ml
Day 35 - HIV 2 Rna pcr - sensitivity - 10UI/ml
4th gen on day 11,28,32,35,40,45,58,66 and 70.
I have read on internet about HIV-2 , few say low viral load so long window period of 3 months,6 months , sero delay.
I am so worried about correct information.
As you are the best expert I know with regards to STD, could you please help me out sir.
Please share your valuable info sir , like,when can i competely stop testing being for sure that i dont have hiv-2 at all including that long window period,sero delays etc.
Im a healthy person without any issues as of now , age 27.
Please help sir,awaiting for your reply.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
17 months ago
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Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your confidence in our services. It's only by chance I am responding and not Dr. Hook: users do not have the option of selecting the moderator who responds. Anyway, Dr. Hook's and my expertise and advice are identical.
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I don't understand why you are concerned about HIV in view of these test results. They prove without doubt you are not infected with either HIV1 or HIV2. It seems you are the victim of over-searching the internet and, like many anxious web users, are being drawn selectively to information that inflames your fears and concerns. The fact is that you had an exposure that is very unlikely to have transmitted HIV (average once for ever 2,500 episodes of unprotected vaginal sex, if the female partner has HIV); further reduced for HIV2, which accounts for under 1% of HIV infections in most areas, probably including India; and you have all those negative tests. There are no "serological delays" for HIV2 compared with HIV1. Your HIV1 and HIV2 PCR tests and the many AgAb (4th generation) blood tests beyond 45 days all are conclusive proof you are infected with neither virus.
You have been seriously over tested. Please stop, and go forward with complete confidence you do not have either HIV1 or HIV2.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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17 months ago
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Hi doctor hunter, thanks a lot for your response.
It actually means a lot to finally talk to you.
My concern is actually because the partner involved is African individual and a commercial sex worker in india.She came to india , if i guess correctly only last year not sure for what purposes.She says she is from east africa but I dont wanna trust what she is saying as she is changing her answers now and then and denied to test when I asked her to test.
As the exposure is with African woman, i am extremely worried about HIV-2.
Lot of information on internet, where some say less viral load, so I dont know if i have to trust PCR.If not PCR, not sure when I can trust 4th gen for HIV-2 conclusitivity.
To be short,say the partner involved is HIV-2 positive only and I had unprotected vaginal and oral sex with her
1.Are the tests which I have already done conclusive
2.Should I restest 4th gen (or) PCR on day 90 ,day 180,day 360?
3.When is HIV-2 conclusive and with what test,say the exposure is with HIV-2 infected individual only.
Some doc said, 3 months, some said 6 months, some guy on this same website told he saw a guy with 1 yr tested positive for HIV-2(not sure regarding the timeline though like which year and all).
Please help me out here, i am thinking of postponing my marriage because i dont want to put other girl life at risk.I want to know the info on when i can be comoletelt sure i dont have HIV-2 and with what test if the partner involved has HIV-2.
Thank you sir, sorry for long message
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
17 months ago
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The tone of these questions and your online "shouting" (bold type) suggests you believe I did not read or understand your questions. Of course I did! Even in Africa, HIV2 is uncommon. The vast majority of HIV infections in Africans are HIV1.
Your three questions reveal you did not read or understand my replies above. 1) I already said the tests you have had are conclusive. 2) No more 4th gen testing is needed. 3) Your HIV2 RNA test was 100% conclusive at 35 days and the AgAb (4th generation) blood tests were conclusive for HIV2 on day 45 and every test after that.
That some sources advise 3 or 6 month testing reveals they have limited knowledge or understanding of HIV tests and HIV2. And of course anybody can claim whatever they want on the internet. It seems clear you are being misled by repeated compulsive internet searching on this topic. I suggest you stop.
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17 months ago
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Hi sir,
Thanks a lot for the response.
Sorry if the tone of the questions was different, I didn't mean to offend in anyway sir, and I didnt know bold means shouting in online messaging context.I thought using bold means , emphasizing what is more important.Apologies for that.
I am really sorry for both the tone of the questions and bold I have used.I will never use bold from now on.
Coming to the queries I had, thanks for assuring I am negative with regards to both HIV1 and HIV2.
Initially I thought it was 8 weeks from your other responses with 4th gen for HIV-2, glad I did RNA PCR on day 35 for HIV2.
I will stop testing from now on,
Sir one last question, if I were to trust only 4th gen for HIV-2, is it conclusive on 6th week, 8th (or) 12th?
Please kindly ignore if tone of any of my question is bad.
I sincerely respect your knowledge and expertise in this field, I tried to contact you everywhere possible but finally when I found this website I was very gald I could finally talk to you directly.
I am at a stage where only if I listen from you that my results are conclusive I can be happy.
Again, I am really glad and very happy that I talked to you, infact i went and told to my mom as well that I got a reply from you.
I wish you all the success and great health sir.Experts like you are needed in this field.You are the best.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
17 months ago
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Don't over-interpret my comments. I didn't mean to chastise you; obviously it's your anxiety, nothing more. I'm not sure bold type is a "shout" -- but however you define it, you were afraid that somehow I didn't understand your sex partner was African, which of course I did.
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We have always advised that HIV PCR results are conclusive well before 35 days, and that negative AgAb (4th generation) tests are conclusive at 45 days for both HIV1 and 2 -- although we often acknowledge a slight possibility that it takes 8 weeks for HIV2 antibody. But with the PCR result as well, your later test results were superfluous.
Thanks for your thanks and for your kind words about our services. I'm glad to have help settle your fears about HIVs. Best wishes and stay safe.
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