[Question #11335] HIV Exposure/Testing
15 months ago
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Hello, I had an exposure oral sex (I was giving oral sex to a man with completion in my mouth) on October 21st 2023, following this I became so anxious and I have had the follow tests done. November 25th (5weeks) 4th gen Negative, November 27th (5weeks) 3rd gen Negative, December 5th (6 weeks 45 days) 4th gen Negative, December 12th (7 weeks) 3rd gen Negative, January 9th (11 weeks 80 days) 3rd gen Negative, January (13 weeks >90 days) 3rd gen Negative, February (>90 days) 3rd gen Negative, March 4th (135 days 4.4 month) 4th gen Negative, March 27th (158 days 5.1 month) 4th Negative, April 23rd (185 days 6 month) 3rd gen Negative.
At this point I need an ID specialist to tell me to stop testing and that all my tests are conclusive. Have either of you seen a person (outside of this forum in your own practice) test negative at 45 days and then turn positive afterwards? Is it even possible for someone to not produce antibodies or antigens for HIV by 5-6 months?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
15 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment and hope that my comments will help you to move forward without concern. First, let me point out that the exposure you describe was very low risk. I say this because far less than 1% of heterosexual men have HIV and even when a male partner has untreated HIV, the risk of acquiring infection is less than 1 infection per 10,000 acts of oral sex on average, i.e. like performing oral sex on an untreated, HIV infected man daily for more than 27 years. This, even before testing your risk for infection is substantially less than 1 in a million. since your exposure, you have proven on multiple occasions that you were not infected. ALL 4th generation HIV tests are conclusive at any time more than 45 days after an exposure. The using 4th generation tests you have PROVEN you were not infected 3 times. Similarly, 3rd generation tests are conclusive any time more than 8 weeks after an exposure- thus with 3rd generation tests you have proven you were not infected 3 additional times.
We have never seen or heard of a person with negative 4th generations tests are 45 days go on to become positive. you are not going to be the 1rst.
---You have seriously over tested. Please stop testing. The results are not going to change. You did not acquire HIV from the low risk exposure you describe. EWH
15 months ago
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Thank you for your reply Dr. Hook, I appreciate the input. I know that my testing has been overly cautious, but sites such as Reddit are awful for individuals like myself. People claim they took months to test positive, but I have to keep in mind these people didn't even get tested until months even years later when they finally decided to get tested. Science is there for a reason, and I have to trust something. At this point I am more likely to get a false positive if I keep testing. Thank you again for this website to help provide information to those of us who struggle.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
15 months ago
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I'm glad I could help. Reddit and other internet sites are not helpful it situations like yours. Much of the information found there is incorrect for several reasons including that the information has been misinterpreted, has been taken out of context, is out of date, or sometimes is just plain wrong. Again, you can be confident that you do not have HIV.
Take care. EWH
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15 months ago
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Hello Dr. Hook,
I have one more question just for my own information. Is Oraquick considered 2nd generation (IGg only) or 3rd generation (IMg and IGg)? And, I know it is not you or Dr. HH's favorite test, but is it accurate after the 3 month window period (as stated on box)? I wonder why the 92% for identifying positive cases are so low. I have taken a few Oraquicks in addition to my other testing over the past 7 months now, and all have been negative. I am just curious how reliable they are? I'm assuming they have to be pretty reliable otherwise they would not still be on the market.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
15 months ago
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Final Response. OraQuick tests are technically 3rd generation tests. While their performance is statistically the same as other 3rd generation tests, in our experience there are a few more infections missed by the OraQuick test than by other tests performed on blood. The are good tests, just not the best
Hope this helps. This completes this thread. EWH
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