Dear Doctors:

Thank you for the invaluable service you provide here...

Exposure History - I performed unprotected oral sex on a woman of unknown status.  Female in her late 40s; South Florida region; bar pickup at a hotel lounge.  Performed oral sex on her for abut 5 minutes or so but thought better of the encounter and decided to leave her room.  I literally never took my shoes off.  Would have also had genital-hand contact with her prior to oral sex.

Symptoms: Exactly 14 days after encounter developed fever, GI upset, swollen glands.  Fever resolved after about 24 hours but anxiety took strong hold after that.  Have continued to have periodic GI upset as well as nausea, lightheadedness, etc.  Did not develop sore throat or rash.

Tests:  Ordered online through STD service.  Venous blood samples given at Labcorp.  4th generation tests at 31, 40 and 52 days.  All non-reactive.

Was feeling pretty good about things but have been reading lately about the window period for HIV 2.  I know that the subtype is exceedingly rare in the US but you know how the anxiety goes...

I'm in a new relationship and my partner just tested negative on an Oraquick home test.  It's been several months she has had sex with another partner so I feel pretty confident about her result.  We have started engaging in unprotected sex based on the results of my last HIV test.  Questions:

1.  Would my test at 52 days be sufficient time to exclude HIV 2 or do I need to retest at 12 weeks?

2. Can I continue to engage in unprotected sex with my current partner?  I should add that I had a standard STD Panel earlier this year before the Florida encounter with everything negative.  My new partner is also planning on having a full STD panel but realistically, HIV is my primary concern.  I just want to do everything possible to avoid exposing my new partner to any risk.

Thanks.

Doctor Hook:

Thank you for your quick reply and advice.  I'm a divorced father of three and the incident I described was very out of character for me so your reassurance on the testing I've had is much appreciated.  Like many of those worried who read through the various questions on the forum, it sometimes makes a big difference to hear the answer directly from you or Dr. Handsfield even if the question has essentially been answered before.  Please keep up the great work you're doing.  It is a wonderful public health resource.