[Question #1913] Nervous Wreck follow up to few days back
94 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
94 months ago
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Welcome back to the Forum. I’m disappointed that your partner was unwilling to be tested and saddened that he does not appear to understand that just because his pregnant partner does not have HIV does not necessarily rule out his having HIV. Clearly people can have many sexual encounters with infected persons without transmitting infection. As I think I said earlier however, it is UNLIKELY that he has HIV on a purely statistical basis but that his partner has tested negative does not mean he is not infected. Let’s work through your questions and then I will have a few more comments.
1. That you have a sore throat does not suggest HIV. The sore throat which is part of the ARS is typically severe and accompanied by high temperature, muscle aches and sometimes a rash or diarrhea. Further, studies have shown that 99% of at risk persons who have ARS-type symptoms do not have HIV but have other problems such as the flu. I would not worry about your sore throat as a sign of HIV.
2. Estimates of the likelihood of HIV transmission/acquisition are quite variable and are influenced by many other factors including the amount of virus circulating in the infected person, whether the insertive partner is circumcised, etc. The figure I gave you in my original reply was a bit conservative (i.e. higher than other estimates). Further, there is really not much difference between 1 in 200 (a ½ of 1% chance) and 1 in 900 chance (slightly more than a 1/10th of 1% chance), particularly which you multiple that low likelihood by factors that it is statistically unlikely that your partner had HIV and that you used a condom that was most likely intact while you were having sex.
3. I’m not sure I understand the question. 4th generation, duo tests are definitive at 4 weeks. You are now at about 2 weeks- a 4th generation test would detect over half of recent infections by now, perhaps more. 3rd generation tests are less sensitive than 4th generation tests.
4. See my comments about symptoms above. Only about half of persons who get HIV develop symptoms. On the other hand, at 4 weeks, DUO tests are definitive and 3rd generation tests would detect 85-90% of infections at 4 weeks.
5. Your 5th question did not come across
Finally, let me reiterate that your condom most probably worked. When condoms fail during sex they break wide open. They do not develop pin hole leaks. The leak you describe is more likely to be due to your removal of the condom or the “water test” itself. Further, the hole in the condom was well above your urethra which is where infection occurs. My sense is that your condom probably worked.
I urge you not to worry too much about this. The odds that you were infected in the encounter you have described are tiny. EWH
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94 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
94 months ago
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94 months ago
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Improvements in HIV test window periods
Recent improvements in HIV tests have significantly shortened the window periods of the tests (the time from infection to detection of HIV).[1] The average window periods for the following tests are:
• 20 to 22 days for third-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests, which detect HIV antibodies.
• 16 to 18 days for fourth-generation EIA tests, which detect p24 antigen and HIV antibodies.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
94 months ago
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