About 4.5 months ago, I had an unprotected encounter (both oral and vaginal) with a female of unknown status. She and her husband are swingers which makes me more anxious about the possibilities of HIV. After 10 days from that encounter, I began to feel various symptoms including on and off fever (99 to 100), muscle twitching (Fasciculation) all over body, sharp and painful muscle pain in various areas + finger joint pain, white/dry tongue, reoccurring canker sores, metallic taste in mouth, sore throat (pretty bad in the last couple of weeks), night sweats, VERY dry skin (I have ezcema, but is worse now), and various swollen lymph nodes around my neck/jaw. These symptoms have continued for the past 4 months, daily. 

Here are my test results: 
HIV RNA: Day 11, 15, 21, 38, 71, and 113 (all negative, HIV 1 & 2 from Labcorp)

4th gen HIV: Day 32, 44, 46, 57, 66, 84, and 95 (all negative, from Labcorp) 

Full Panel STD Test: Day 32 & 84 (all negative, from labcorp) 

I visited a PCP twice and had done various blood work. First PCP did a CBC and found nothing out of range (this was 6 weeks from the exposure). Second PCP (he is an ENT) suspected that I have very bad allergies back on my throat inflammation and said that post nasal drip could be causing my sore throat. He conducted an allergy test panel and I came back positive for almost all kinds of allergens. I've had bad allergies before but never coincided with the reoccurring canker sores, muscle pain, etc. 

I would like to scientifically know if its still possible for me to have HIV based on the fact that all these symptoms are occurring at the same time. Thank you. 

Self assessment of lymph nodes is notoriously unreliable and clearly your nodes are not enlarged or inflamed. And none of your other symptoms fits with HIV. You cannot look at lists of HIV symptoms and conclude you might be infected because you have one more of them. All HIV symptoms are far more common in other medical conditions, and HIV test results always overrule both symptoms and exposure history. It seems to me that your doctor is correct in dismissing your concerns. But continue to follow up with her (or get a second opinion). But please stop worrying about HIV. You don't have it -- and there is no additional information you can possibly provide that could change that conclusion.

I hope these additional comments are helpful. Let me know if anything you still do not understand.

HHH, MD

1) Is it impossible to have HIV (1 or 2) if I tested negative for HIV RNA all the way up to day 113 (3 months)? 

2) For my peace of mind, would taking a HIV DNA test help solidify my health status? I've been wanting to take a CD4 count test just to see what my immune system looks like at the moment, but the PCP refused and believes that stress/guilt is making my symptoms. I've been stressed before but never manifested into physical symptoms such as these....

3) Some government resources (such as the VA website and WebMD) insists that while most will develop antibodies by 3 months, some will not until 6 months. Therefore, 3 months and 6 months retesting is needed to confirm status. Is this still recommended since I have ongoing symptoms? Should I retest again in 6 months? 

4) I guess for my sanity and logical thinking, it'd be great to know why it is impossible (or extremely unlikely), in a scientific sense, for me to have HIV after all these negative tests. Like the scientific reasoning on why its impossible to have HIV without a positive HIV RNA test by 3 months. 

5) Is it possible that the virus could've mutated into something that is undetectable via tests or is "hiding" somewhere that fails to be detected via a blood test? I've heard that a spinal tap can show 100% if someone was infected or not? 

6) What steps/recommendations do you believe I should take in order to figure this issue out? My PCP said I can take immune boosting allergy shots, but I seriously doubt that my symptoms are solely caused by allergies. 

This has seriously overtaken my life for the past 4 months and nothing has been enjoyable for me. It's gotten to the point of me thinking about what steps I need to take in life moving forward as a potential HIV positive heterosexual man... Thank you once again. 

As I said above, there is no information you can provide, or any other concerns that come to mind, that can change our conclusive and advice on these issues, and your multiple additional questions are just more of the same.