I had an exposure 23August, condom broke while I was the top. The issue is that I was late to get on pep, 85~ hours. I explained that to my doctor and he said that my exposure is very high and even if the timing have passed he wouldn’t mind per scripting it maybe it. I was late because the exposure happened outside my country I had to travel back.

I haven’t got a blood test as I didn’t continue the full 6 weeks post pep I’m right at 5 weeks and 2-3 days. yesterday I had a moderate risk exposure were I met a tourist transgender here and I only engaged in masturbation with her after I refused sex, she came on my penis/abdomen then continued masturbating me with the mix of sperm and lubricant. I didn’t pass the 15 hour mark and went to the doctor who asked me to try to get Prep from abroad as its not allowed in my country and perscribed a second pep for the theoretical risk if her sperm got in my urethra. I got a rapid test in his office which is after 37 days of last pep dose, and there was a faint line next to Ag, its completely colorless but its as if I can see the boarders of where the test should be reactive. the nurse said its -tve but I can repeat if I want and I did. results came the same with -ve but if I bring a flashlight close to the lines I can see where the positive line should be. The nurse laughed and said its negative and I’m exaggerating with using my phone flash and they took blood specimens for labs.

Should I be worried about the line on the rapid strip? I’m only concerned as it makes sense that only Ag would have that border specially with the timing 5weeks post pep. 

Am I at risk of seroconversion after this ghost line or evaporation line?? (both rapid tests were read exactly 20 minutes after sample) is my current pep reasonable? thank you

I just can’t get over the fact that this ghost line was only around Ag and not Ab for me especially with the 5 weeks post pep which can explain that my body haven’t produced enough anti bodies yet

1.  You over estimate your risk of HIV from the August exposure.  The risk, as a "top" of an unprotected exposure to an infected partner is less than, on average, one infection per over 1000 encounters- thus there IF your partner was infected there was a greater than 99.9% chance you WOULD NOT be infected..  When you add to that that it is statistically unlikely that your partner had untreated HIV and your PEP, albeit late, there is virtually no risk that you were infected.  Your recent tests verify that you were not infected.  Believe the results.  The lab based tests will verify that you were not infected and should be believed.

2.  We receive may questions from persons exposed to a partner's ejaculate during mutual masturbation who worry that some of that ejaculate may have entered their urethra.  That simply virtually never happens and is not a concern.  Further, like your earlier encounter, you do not know that your partner had HIV and it is unlikely that she had HIV.  It is statistically unlikely that she did.  I would not have encouraged you to take PEP for that exposure.

I hope these responses are helpful.  It's clear that your assessment of HIV risk is higher than is realistic and that you worry a lot about this.  That being the case, I would encourage you to seek PrEP going forward.  I am confident that you did not get HIV from either of the encounters that you have described.  EWH

I have already took my first dose of Truvada and Tivicay once I left the doctor’s office + a HBV immune globulin and 200mg of doxycycline, I really don’t want to risk even theoretical risks. 

Don’t you think its concerning that only the Ag had that ghost line? and when I say ghost I don’t mean its faint, I can only see the difference shades of white on where the positive line should be when I look close with a flashlight. Or would it be Positive for both Ag and Ab if my previous pep have failed? Because the UK guidelines have changed recently to testing after 6 weeks of pep instead of 4. Really worried I tested a week too soon for anything to show up hence the ghost line. Sorry If I’m being repetitive this whole situation is eating me up, promise I’ll stay celibate for the rest of my life if this all turns out well, not because of the situation I’m in but the only time I got a reactive STD was from an ex monogamous girlfriend who gave me chlamydia.  Thanks again doctor and I’ll keep the last reply once I get my blood results.

Rather than taking unnecessary hepatitis B immune globulin, I would suggest that you take the vaccine ( once you prove that you do not and have not had hepatitis B, something that will need to wait until after you hepatitis B immune globulin has disappeared.  EWH

These blood tests were taken before my HB immune globulin. I forgot to mention that I got my 2nd shot of HEP B vaccine that day too, as I was already late for my second dose by a week or so as I wanted to get everything done by week 6 after my pep.

Why are my hbs ab too high after 1 shot? already took second dr says no need for 3rd

Likewise, I am confident that your current symptoms are not due to HIV serial conversion or anything that you acquired from the encounter that you’ve described. Once again, I urge you to not worry and move forward.

As you know, we provide up to three responses to each clients questions. This is my third response and therefore the thread will now be closed. Take care. EWH.