[Question #12194] HIV Testing

9 months ago

Hello Doctors,

I’ve visited your site more times than I can count. I had two encounters 3 months ago with CSWs in America. Twice protected vaginal and twice unprotected oral. They both said they got tested regularly and were clean.

I have a blood test coming up on Monday. But my anxiety is through the roof regarding HIV, and I’m wondering if OraQuick would provide accurate results at this point? I also read liver disease and Lyme disease (among other things) could produce false positives. How likely is that? Sorry if I’m asking too many questions. I’m in the Walmart parking lot debating buying the tests and am incredibly fearful/anxious. Thanks for your time.

9 months ago

Sorry, my blood test results* come back on Tuesday. Also condom seemed to remain intact during both encounters. No slippage.

Based on what I read here I assumed my encounters were low risk. I did have unprotected sex with a rekindled ex and I’m absolutely terrified that I could have put her in danger.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

9 months ago

If you've asked questions in the past, you have apparently changed your sign-in name. This ties our hands in terms of providing a complete answer.

The exposures you describe were low risk. Most CSWs in Latin America do not have HIV and most single exposures to infected partners do not lead to infection. Your partners told you they had been tested and most people do tell the truth. Condom protected vaginal sex is safe, virtually no risk, and no one has ever been proven to acquire HIV from receipt of oral sex. I anticipate that your test on Monday will show that you were not infected.

Oraquick is our least favorite test. While in clinical trials, it's performance is statistically equivalent to HIV antibody tests performed on blood, there are rare instances in which OraQuick tests miss infections detected by blood tests. Any blood test that you have at this time, 3 months after your exposure, will be conclusive and, I anticipate, will show that you were not infected.

My advice is to do your best to not worry. a negative OraQuick at this time, should you decide to do one, will be confirmed by a negative blood test next week. EWH

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9 months ago

I’m not sure what you mean about providing a complete answer. I paid for a question years ago, and could not remember my sign-in name, thought it would be ok.

I should’ve been more clear that it was in midwestern America.

Is there any reason to worry about Lyme disease or specifically liver disease causing a false positive with the blood test?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

9 months ago

Thanks for your clarification on previous visits to the forum.

In the American Midwest rates of HIV typically are on the low side, making the risk of the already low risk and counter you describe perhaps even lower. Neither Lyme disease nor liver problems are associated falsely negative blood tests for HIV.

Once again, I urge you to not worry and wait for your test results. EWH.

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9 months ago

Thank you for your replies.

I just need to clarify, it’s a false positive that I’m concerned about. While researching OraQuick their website says those two things, among others, can produce a false positive. Does that mean those conditions can cause a false positive on a blood test as well?

I’m probably past my limit of questions, and I very much appreciate this service and your expertise, but my biggest concern is that using condoms is ‘virtually’ no risk regarding HIV. I’m not sure how to process that information - and even though I haven’t had any symptoms or high risk encounters, I’ve convinced myself I contracted HIV. I know that’s more of a conversation for a therapist, but I’m hung up on the word ‘virtually’.

Again thank you for your time, and I won’t make any more replies on this thread.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

9 months ago

These are "what if" questions for tests that have not been performed yet. This is non-productive. I suggest that you get your laboratory-based tests and when they are negative, as I anticipate they will be, that you believe the results and move forward. Falsely positive results occur on very rare occasions with all laboratory tests including tests for HIV. Falsely positive tests are slightly more common with OraQuick than lab based tests and most labs have a standard procedure for validating positive results in place to reduce reporting of falsely positive results. This is more difficult to do with the OraQuick and requires obtaining additional tests.

We use the term "virtually" because in science there are no absolutes and because new information is being discovered all the time. Please don't get hung up on the use of this term.

Please just get your test. As I've already said, I anticipate that the results will show that you were not infected.

As you know, we provide up to 3 responses to each client's questions. Thus this thread will be closed shortly. EWH

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