Hi Doctor Hook, just a quick question and follow-up I understand there is zero possibility with my HIV test turning to be positive at the 12 week mark. I have a question regarding my syphillis testing however since I am starting a new relationship and want to ensure I am putting my partner at no risk. With a CMIA or EIA screening test at 6 weeks negative and no chancre or syphillis rash now 9 weeks post encounter what are the chances a 12 week test is positive and have you ever seen it happen. Really just want to make sure I am safe to resume unprotected sex with a long term partner. 

Welcome back but I'm sorry you found it necessary.---

Apologies doctor, I just started psychotherapy for this and honestly pretty disappointed in myself for adding to the stigma of hiv or any other sti as you know Reddit stories coupled into excessive testing never helps. I appreciate all the knowledge you and Doctor Hook bring and will focus on mentally recovering. Is there any other tests to ensure I don’t put my wife at risk of anything, herpes tests here in Canada are extremely skewed and most if not all std clinics don’t do a blood test for it unless the appearance of sores also the same with hpv but from my understanding about 90 percent of sexually active adults will catch hpv at some point in their life. 

We certainly agree Reddit and other online sites by and for people with particular health problems -- whether STI/HIV or virtually any other health problem you might think of -- often are the worst places for objective information. Such sites tend to be dominated by very biased perspectives, often have fantastically unscientific perspectives, etc. Anybody can write whatever they want or believe. If you feel compelled to search for health information online, I would encourage you to stick with professionally run or moderated sites, like those run by academic medical centers, public health agencies, and professional societies (although even the latter often over-emphasize frightening perspectives).---

I am looking forward to hearing more. I’ve been watching a few of yours and dr.hooks YouTube videos. Reading through some of your papers as well, looking forward to reading or watching a video of you talking about when this test is released and hopefully Canada follows suit on performing it. Thanks again Doctor Handsfield and Doctor Hook.

In this and your earlier discussion, you say nothing that suggest you should test for HSV. The currently available tests simply are not reliable in most people without symptoms typical of an HSV infection, the main reason for Canada's policies. Do your best to stop obsessing about it; for the large majority of all people, it simply doesn't matter whether they have HSV1 or HSV2.---