[Question #12940] Hiv RNA Test and Symptoms
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3 months ago
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Hello,
I had protected vaginal sex with a sex worker on April 11th. I did stick my finger in her vagina and butt and she scratched me on my stomach hard enough to bleed. A day or two after I started having night sweats and digestive issues and have felt feverish but I never had a fever. I do feel like I'm fighting an infection. I have polycythemia vera which already increases my inflammatory responses. I have high platelets, red blood cell counts and border line white blood cells counts from my bone marrow disease. I took a HIV RNA test 10 days and 16 days after exposure and both tests were negatived. I'm stressing out that I'm a late bloomer to seroconverison and that's why the HIV RNA test hasn't detected the virus. I had a therapeutic phlebotomy on April 18th to reduce my hematocrit. I'm not sure if this could have have an affect on testing as well.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 months ago
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Welcome to the Forum and thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. The encounter you describe was virtually no risk. Condoms, when used throughout the encounter virtually eliminate risk for HIV and the most common STIs. Similarly, they eliminate risk for HIV. Your insertion of your finger into her vagina and rectum are no risk activities. Your Polycythemia Vera would not be expected to impact the reliability of your test results, particularly the PCR test.
You’ve proven you were not infected. Your symptoms are due to something other than HIV.
EWH
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3 months ago
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Thanks for the quick response. How likely would it be for the HIV RNA test after 16 days to be inaccurate?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 months ago
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As I said, your results are conclusive. They should be believed. Errors are extraordinarily rare. EWH---
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3 months ago
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I'm still paranoid and went and got another HIV RNA test after 20 day expsoure. I'm waiting for the results. I have read other others on this website about the HIV RNA test. One of the doctors mentioned after 14 days of exposure the HIV RNA results are conclusive. Is this true?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
3 months ago
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We provide up to three responses to each clients question. This repetitive question will be your final follow up. The answer is not going to change. HIVRNAPCR tests are considered conclusive anytime more than 11 days following an exposure of concern. I am confident that your repeat PCR tests will confirm once again that you do not have HIV. I hope that both my response and your 2 negative test results will allow you to move forward from your entirely unwarranted continuing anxiety. EWH.---