[Question #5729] Unprotected sex - hiv fear

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73 months ago
I made a biggest mistake and suffering from it for past 6 weeks, drinking a lot to cope up with that. 

I had unprotected sex 45 days ago with an escort and started having symptoms after 2 weeks. 
I got scared a lot and had severe anxiety. I took HIV RNA on the 9th day and 20th day both were neagative then took the HIV 4th gen test on 35th day and 10 test panel(including HIV 4th gen) on 42nd day both were non reactive. 

can I consider them conclusive on 42nd day or do I need to wait for 12 weeks since this is a high risk exposure? I am in a desperate need for advice and in need to talk to someone.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
73 months ago
Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your confidence in our assessments.  It is my pleasure to inform you that, as long as you did not take HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, your testing conclusively proves that you were not infected through your misstep 45 days ago.  Your symptoms at two weeks were due to something else. Your HIV RNA test on the 20th day (the day 9 test was a bit early to be conclusive) was a strong indicator that you were not infected (I have never seen an RNA test taken after day 11 or 12 become positive) and you have confirmed it both with your day 35 and day 42 tests which provide unequivocal proof that you were not infected.  There is no need for further testing.     

I hope this information will be helpful.  EWH
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73 months ago
thanks for the reply Dr.Hook. Am not on PEP.

sorry for asking again, you are 100% certain that I don't need any more testing and am not infected correct

9th day - HIV-1 RNA Qualitative - Negative
20th day - HIV-1 RNA Qualitative - Negative

35th day - HIV Screen 4th Generation wRfx -- Non Reactive
42th day - HIV Screen 4th Generation wRfx and 10test panel-- Non Reactive
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
73 months ago
Repeating your question will not change my assessment. Your tests prove that you were not infected with HIV in the exposure you have described.  EWH---
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73 months ago
Thanks Dr, sorry I asked the same question again. I have been reading a lot on Google and some say that 6 weeks is conclusive and some still say 12 weeks.that was why I got worried and anxious 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
73 months ago
Google and the internet in general will often mislead you,  Much of what is seen there is misleading, out of date, or taken out of context.  I would encourage you to stay off the internet.  The 12 week figure has been out of date for a number of years.  For combination HIV antigen/antibody tests research showed that 6 week results were reliably conclusive several years ago.  

As I suspect you know, we provide up to three responses to each client's question.  This is my 3rd response.  thus this thread will be closed shortly without further responses.  EWH
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73 months ago
Thanks Dr.hook for your time and explanation. I will try to relax and put this behind