[Question #13446] Concern

1 months ago

Hello Dr.

This is in regard to my previous posted involving mutual m2m mutual masturbation and using a towel of his afterwards. I had HIV tests:

RNA on day 19- negative

Finger prick 4th gen day 30- negative

2 4th gen blood tests after 45 day period- both negative

I want to stop testing! This doubt for testing has never happened like this before. Constant “what if” the tests were false negative or if the towel was covered in Blood and got into chaffage on my penis and I didn’t realize it- or an open wound I didn’t see.

I am seeing a therapist and working on this as much as possible.

Now my concern has become HBV.

I'm unsure of vaccination.

Could this towel scenario lead to positive HBV diagnosis? If it was bloody?

It has been 49 days since the experience/ exposure day. If I got tested for HBV and it came out negative, would I be good or do I have to wait 3 months for it to actually be conclusive? What are the testing windows?

Also is there any concern for syphillis?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

Welcome back to the Forum. Thanks for your continuing confidence in our service. As a reminder, I've copied the reply I made to your questions about 3 weeks ago:

"Facts:

1. You do not know that your partner had HIV, most people do not.

2. HIV and other STIs are not spread by mutual masturbation, even when partners get each others secretions on each other in the process.

3. HIV and other STIs are not spread by sharing a towel which has been used by an infected person.

4. HIV RNA PCR tests are conclusive any time more than 11 days following an exposure.

There is no need for further testing. Worrying about a falsely negative HIV RNA PCR test is a waste of time. It's time to move forward without concern."

As I said then, no STIs, including not only HIV but hepatitis B are transmitted through contacts with genital secretions during mutual masturbation. The same is true regarding sharing a towel. Your follow-up HIV tests provide conclusive evidence that you were not infected with HIV and your tests for hepatitis B prove that you did not get hepatitis B either. There is no need for further testing in relationship to the no risk encounter you describe;

I hope this information is helpful. It's time to move forward. EWH

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1 months ago

I think you meant to say HIV and Hep B are NOT transmitted from genital secretions?

I have not been tested for Hep B. And as I said before, I am unsure if my vaccination status.

My question was if I get tested, what are the testing windows for hep b- do you have to wait 3 months after the potential exposure day or is it conclusive earlier than that?

But I guess you’re saying testing is not necessary?

If that’s the case, Is it ok to go back to dating and participating in sexual activity with others without concern of infecting someone with anything?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

My concluding summary comment read "As I said then, no STIs, including not only HIV but hepatitis B are transmitted through contact with genital secretions during mutual masturbation. The same is true regarding sharing a towel. Your follow-up HIV tests provide conclusive evidence that you were not infected with HIV and your tests for hepatitis B prove that you did not get hepatitis B either. There is no need for further testing in relationship to the no risk encounter you describe". Your vaccination status is irrelevant in this instance.

If you acquired hepatitis B, your tests would be positive at this time.

Further testing is NOT needed. It is certainly OK for you to go back to dating. EWH

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1 months ago

Dr. Hook, I have not tested for Hepatitis B,

I’ve said this in both responses. I don’t know if I have been vaccinated and I have not tested for hepatitis B.

All my responses on this have been spent trying to explain that I have not been tested.

I asked originally that if I did get tested for hepatitis B, would I need to wait 3 months for conclusive results or would waiting 53 days (now) be conclusive? (It was a hypothetical statement)

What is the testing window? The main reason I purchased this is to ask this question, specifically.

Like with HIV, you say conclusive after 42 days for 4th gen. This is reassuring bc that’s what you tell people and I trust that.

I’m curious what the window is for hepatitis B bc I would like to get a test as soon as possible ( even if it was no risk) and am 53 days out.

What do you tell people is conclusive for hep B when getting tested?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

I am aware that you do not know if you have been vaccinated for hepatitis B or not. That is irrelevant to the answers to your questions. If your tests for hepatitis B included tests for hepatitis B antibody and were negative it is unlikely but still possible that you have been vaccinated.

Persons who acquire hepatitis B have conclusive tests by 8 weeks following acquisition of infection although some conservative sources suggest follow up testing at 3 or even 6 months. Most experts fell that a complete hepatitis B panel looking for antibodies and antigen is conclusive at 6-8 weeks following exposure.

This thread is now complete. EWH

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