[Question #1803] Negative HIV Rapid Test after 73 and 74 days

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90 months ago
I am a woman in my mid thirties. 7 years celibate. However on the 3rd Dec 2016 I gave fellatio (about 1-2 minutes) to a longtime friend (he said he had Negative HIV tests last year) I withdrew my mouth before he ejaculated, however there was a small amount of precum while I was performing the act. He also performed cunninglingus on me as well. I immediately after regretted what I did and have been in a obsessive drive of Internet researching the risks of HIV and oral sex. I have gleaned that the risk is "extremely low", but not zero.
I did:
1. 28th day Negative- rapid test with the options of three markers (HIV-1, HIV-2 and control line)- not sure what generation.
2. 43rd day Negative - rapid test (2nd Doctor results in under a couple minutes) - not sure what generation or if it was the type that differentiated HIV1 to HIV2.
3. 58th day Negative - rapid test 3rd Dr., price almost double the price of the previous tests. Dr said this was a new  brand of test that could be paralleled with a 4th generation text because it was more sensitive).
4. 73rd day Negative - rapid test (back to the 2nd Doctor, again not sure what generation).
5. 74th day Negative - rapid test (back to 1st Doctor - dr said this was a new test that took about <10 minutes.

I  am exasperated with my obsessive internet searching and compulsive Doctor office hopping.  Can I deem my tests as being in the clear and move on with my life? I've had enough of the testing got now, I am mentally exhausted with my anxiety.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
90 months ago

Welcome to the Forum.  The short answer, which I will then elaborate on, is that it is time for you to stop testing and be assured that you did not get HIV from the exposure you describe.  further, I would urge you to stay off the internet as I can assure you that this will mostly raise your concern and most often mislead you.

You should evaluate your situation first from the statistics involved:

1.  Far less than 1% of heterosexual men in the U.S have HIV.

2. Your partner told you he had been tested and that he was not infected.  Most people tell the truth and is is unlikely that he would have acquired HIV in the year following being tested.

3.  The estimated risk of infection IF he was infected is less than 1 infection per 10,000 exposure, thus using the average HIV rate in the population and the risk of infection if he was, mathematically, your likelihood of infection before you were tested is less than 1 in a million.

Second, consider your test results.  While most antibody-only tests are definitive at 6-8 weeks, it may take slightly longer with the rapid tests that you used.  That said:

1. 4th generation, antigen-antibody tests are definitive at 4 weeks (28 days) and you were tested at day 53.  These results are definitive.

2. You were tested twice at more than 70 days (7 weeks).  these results are also definitive. 

Bottom line, your results are definitive.  Really.  Time to believe the results, stop testing and move forward without concern or remorse.  EWH

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90 months ago
Thank you Doctor. Sorry I forgot to include I am actually from Trinidad in the Caribbean.  

I will heed your advice. Thank you 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
90 months ago
No problem.  while HIV is a bit more common in the Caribbean than in the continental U.S. the information is compelling that you did not get HIV from the exposure you have described.  You are fine.  EWH
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