[Question #13442] Beed clarification by an expert

1 days ago

Hello doctors,

First of all, I really appreciate being able to consult experts like you, given all the confusing information available on the internet.

I have a few final questions to settle the matter once and for all so I can get on with my normal life.

- I have read the forum and understand that if, for example, I have a negative 4gen test (rapid Abbott but from venous blood and with serum) on August 25, there is no way I could have transmited someone on, say, August 1.

This is because, in order to transmit someone, in addition to RNA, you usually have antigens, right?

My question is, what if 24 days after the test the antigens were decreasing and the antigens were increasing and the test did not detect either of them? Could this happen with the test I took at a specialized clinic, or is it something I should forget about

When I was feeling much calmer, I read about this and became worried again, and I wanted to ask you, whom I trust.

Above all, I am concerned that I may have transmitted it to my partner on August 1 when I had an erotic massage (I don't remember the event very well) 32 days before the test on August 25.

Thanks a lot

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

1 days ago

I'm sorry to see you back. These additional questions reflect unnecessary and self-defeating thoughts and continued meaningless online searching about your. Dr. Hook's closing comment was:

These are anxiety-driven, repetitive questions. My responses and answers [and those that might come from Dr. Handsfield] will not change. There should be no further questions after this thread is closed. If you return you may not receive a response and your posting fee will not be returned.

Trust me and Dr. Hook on this: There is NOTHING you will think of or that you will find with continued online searching that can possibly change our evaluation of your situation and our advice. There is no such thing as the kinds of false negative test results you are speculating about. And for goodness' sake, you had the lowest risk kind of exposure anyone can have! Nobody in the world ever caught HIV from the semi-sexual exposure you are obsessed about. Finally, in the 21 years of this and our preceding forum at MedHelp, with thousands of questions from persons worried about HIV, not one has yet turned out to be positive. You will not be the first.

My closing advice is to stop searching the internet entirely on these issues; accept your non-risk status and negative test results; and if you cannot, consider professional counseling. Your continuing uncertainties and fears are abnormal in view of the repeated, reasoned, science-based advice you have had on this forum -- and perhaps from your own doctor(s).

And your final question, starting with "what if 24 days after the test....", is irrelevant. That never happens. That is, there is no "secondary window" in which a positive AgAb test becomes negative again before it is permanently positive.

There will be no opportunity for discussion, and any further questions about this exposure and your HIV testing will be deleted without even this much reply.

Really, just mellow out. You're fine. I do hope you'll finally accept that fact. Stay safe in the future.

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