[Question #11810] Testing follow up to Question #11717
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12 months ago
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Hi Drs, apologies to be in touch again so soon.
These addition questions are in relation to testing specifically following on from Question #11717.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a place local i.e. a GUM clinic that had availability for appointments around the 6 week (42 days post sex) mark.
A pharmacy near me were able to conduct an INSTI test (3rd gen I believe) which was negative at 42 days post exposure.
These addition questions are in relation to testing specifically following on from Question #11717.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a place local i.e. a GUM clinic that had availability for appointments around the 6 week (42 days post sex) mark.
A pharmacy near me were able to conduct an INSTI test (3rd gen I believe) which was negative at 42 days post exposure.
As my concerns were around my symptom onset around day 33 post potential exposure, these are my questions after doing some research:
1) If my symptoms were ARS related which onset on day 33 after exposure, would my INSTI test have returned positive on day 42 as there would have been enough antibodies by then for detection or is this not enough time inbetween?
1) If my symptoms were ARS related which onset on day 33 after exposure, would my INSTI test have returned positive on day 42 as there would have been enough antibodies by then for detection or is this not enough time inbetween?
2) When is an INSTI test result reliable after exposure? i.e. is 6 weeks a reliable result with an INSTI test?
3) Is a 6 week negative likely to change at a later date?
4) Between Dr Handsfield and Dr Hook, sometimes one persons says ARS onsets from 7day with 21 days being the latest and the other says it never onsets more than 30 days after exposure. Does ARS onset ever occur more than 4 weeks/30 days or in my case at day 33 and beyond?
5) Do I need clincially need further testing?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
12 months ago
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Welcome back to the Forum although I'm sorry that you felt the need. On this occasion I happened to be assigned your questions and will be responding. In preparing to respond, I reviewed your earlier interaction with Dr. Handsfield and agree with all that he said- the encounter you describe was virtually no risk for HIV. It's unfortunate that you were unable to get a 4th generation test to prove to yourself that you did not acuire HIV. I'll go straight to your follow-up questions:
1) If my symptoms were ARS related which onset on day 33 after exposure, would my INSTI test have returned positive on day 42 as there would have been enough antibodies by then for detection or is this not enough time inbetween?
The ARS is due to the interaction of antibodies and the HIV virus. If your symptoms at day 33 were due to HIV, including the ARS, your INSTI/3rd generation test would have been positive.
2) When is an INSTI test result reliable after exposure? i.e. is 6 weeks a reliable result with an INSTI test?
For antibody only tests, it takes 8 weeks for tests to be 100% conclusive. At 6 weeks your result was 90-95% conclusive. In your case, given the virtually no risk nature of the exposure, I would consider your test as further proof that you were not infected and not feel the need to test further
3) Is a 6 week negative likely to change at a later date?
See above. No.
4) Between Dr Handsfield and Dr Hook, sometimes one persons says ARS onsets from 7day with 21 days being the latest and the other says it never onsets more than 30 days after exposure. Does ARS onset ever occur more than 4 weeks/30 days or in my case at day 33 and beyond?
No
5) Do I need clincially need further testing?
I see no need for further testing.
I hope this information has been helpful. EWH
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