[Question #11871] HIV test 16 days negative
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11 months ago
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Hello doctors, thank you for the service you provide.
I was visiting Berlin and had protected sex with an escort on 8/10. She told me that she routinely tests and takes Prep injection. We used condom for the encounter. Since I've come back to the States I thought I'll get tested on 26th August. The night before my test, I started to get cold like symptoms. The next morning I could feel raspy throat and minor headache. The test was 4th generation Ab/Ag, and came back negative the same day. My question is;
I've read that these tests are not reliable until after at least three weeks, I took it on the 16th day, with symptoms of cold. Should I follow up with another test? If yes, when and should it be a different test because the test results say "A non-reactive HIV Ag/Ab result does not exclude HIV infection since the time frame for seroconversion is variable. If acute HIV infection is suspected, HIV-1 RNA Qualitative TMA testing is recommended." This makes me feel like the test is not conclusive.
I asked my healthcare provider and their response was: "it's up to you but a condom was used and your partner stated they were negative".
Thank you for your help!
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11 months ago
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Sorry sir I have one more question for you. I hope that is going to be OK. What if this was an STI and I had some Doxy on hand I know it is not the first line against gonorrhea, but if I were to take the Doxy with my symptoms of the urethra get better if it was an STI
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
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Welcome to our forum. Thank you for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. The encounter that you describe was virtually no risk for acquisition of HIV and most other STI’s. If your encounter took place in a German brothel where sex workers are licensed, testing is routine, making it most unlikely that your partner has an STI of any sort. Before I address your test results, several other comments. First, not only are most commercial sex workers free of STI’s including HIV but they do a better job than most persons in testing and avoiding infection. Second , when persons have sex with an infected partner, even most unprotected encounters do not result in infection. Third you used a condom and when worn throughout an encounter condoms virtually eliminate the risk of HIV and the most common STIs.
Your cold symptoms are not particularly suggestive of HIV.
HIV test taken 16 days after an encounter would only detect about half of recent infections. Combination HIV antigen/antibody tests are more than 98% conclusive at four weeks following an encounter and are entirely conclusive at six weeks.
I hope you have not taken doxycycline and do not to do so. Unless the doxycycline is taken within 24 hours of the encounter taking doxycycline will only confuse your situation.
I hope this information is helpful. I really would not be worried. EWH
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11 months ago
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Good afternoon doc. Thank you so much for the reply. The doxycycline question is not from me, it appears someone just replied to my thread and added their question.
My only two follow up questions are:
1. I've scheduled another test on 10th sep, which is 31 days from the encounter. Is there a specific test I should request from my practitioner or should I just ask for th 4th gen Ab/Ag again?
2. If I was tested with symptoms does that increase the likelihood of the tests being more reliable at 16 days?
Thank you once again and that is all th questions I have.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
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The reply regarding doxycycline was posted in error. Please gnome it.
1. A 4th generation test at 31 days will be more than 98% conclusive. FYI, we have never seen someone who had a negative 4th generation test,at 28 days or beyond go on and turn positive. It is very rare.
2. A negative test at the time you have symptoms proves that the symptoms are not due to HIV.
EWH
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11 months ago
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Thank you so much for your help Dr. Hook. I really appreciate you.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
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I’m glad I could help. Take care. EWH---