[Question #5479] Hiv

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74 months ago
Hello drs Good afternoon

63 days after exposure with a sex worker i  went to a lab and they performed an hiv test (dont know if 3rd or 4th generation) and a viral load test, both came back negative/un detectable, If my viral load is negative and antibodies negative does that mean i dont have hiv? Do i nedd to wait for antoher test? 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
74 months ago
Welcome back, but I'm not sure why you found it necessary to return. The answer is obvious from Dr. Hook's replies two days ago. These test results prove 100% that you do not have HIV. The combination of a negative test for the vfirus itself ("viral load test") plus megative antibody at 4 weeks or more after the last exposure is conclusive. You do not need any more testing.

I hope this helps.

HHH, MD
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74 months ago
Thank you Dr, that was a pending result and i wanted to shared it, i wanted to find the logic in it... When a viral load is low those that mean that the antibodies should be high? And if antibodies are low or abscent the viral load should be high?

Thank you all for your answers by the way
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
74 months ago
Everybody with HIV more than a few weeks has both antibodies and virus in the blood, often at very high viral loads. You may be confusing viral blood testing by PCR with antibody testing, which is different.

The point is that your tests prove you do not have HIV. 
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74 months ago
I understand and this Will be my final question, without treatment even if the inmune system tries to fight the virus and the level drops before it increases again, the amount of virus is still high for the viral load test can detected it? 
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
74 months ago
Correct statement for the large majority of HIV infected persons, i.e. high viral loads and HIV antibodies. Rare persons with HIV are "elite controllers". Even without treatment, they have low (but usually detectable) viral loads and their immune systems are impaired slowly if at all (for example, the CD4 cells remain at normal or only slightly reduced levels. Their HIV antibody tests remain positive. Some people gain the impression that elite controllers have altered standard diagnostic tests, but they do not.

As you say, that completes the two follow-up comments and replies include with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been useful. But we'll have to make this your last one about this exposure and your HIV test results. Thanks.
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