[Question #6191] follow up question #6135

70 months ago

hello team:

i forgot my login information so has to do another one to have my follow up questions answered.

the mind can be a confusing place, and having had anxiety relative to the std clinic blood draw, 29 days after the event i did a 4th generation ag/ab test which was negative. i’ve never had anti viral drugs and there are zero other events i am concerned with.

may i take this 29 day negative test result as conclusive that i did not acquire infection at the clinic? please forgive the question but my mind continues to race and even considering an rna test to confirm this or a six week repeat test.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

70 months ago

Welcome back to our forum. On this occasion I will be addressing your question. There are no instances in which someone has acquired HIV from the process of having blood drawn, even if there was blood on the gauze used to cover the puncture after the needle is removed. If you had asked whether any testing at all was needed following a blood draw my reply would be an emphatic no!

Combination HIV antigen/antibody tests are more than 99% conclusive at 28 days following an event. A very small number of cases (a small fraction of 1%) do not become positive until six weeks have passed I have never seen a fourth generation HIV test become positive more than four weeks following exposure.

If you're only exposure was the blood draw, I urge you not to worry further. EWH

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70 months ago

thank you.

two follow up questions if you please. and i think the answers will prove helpful to others.

(a) if no one turns positive at 6 weeks from negative 4th gen ag/ab test results at 4 weeks, how does science know that it even occurs at all?

and

(b) for low risk or theoretical risk only exposures, is a 28 day negative 4th gen ag/ab test considered conclusive for peace of mind purposes?

if your answer here is yes that would be quite reassuring.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

70 months ago

A. Colleagues at the CDC state that they have data (unpublished to my knowledge) that a "very few" persons turn positive between 28 and 42 days. As I said, this is very, very rare- I have never heard or seen such a case. Personally, I would have great confidence in a negative 28 day test and would not feel the need for further testing, particularly after a very low risk exposure.

B. Yes

Hope this helps. EWH

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69 months ago

i think i will in fact use my last question.

i could not help myself and had another 4th gen ag/ab test at 5 weeks. negative.

scientifically, officially, can i say conclusively that i did not catch hiv from my blood draw at the clinic 5 weeks ago? i have had Zero sexual contact with anyone for the last six weeks.

or must i repeat the test next week at the six week mark?

i am dying to be able to put this behind me and to bed permanently.

thank you for your patience and please advise!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

69 months ago

You are bargaining here, asking me to tell you that your results are conclusive - my answer is not going to change. I have already told you that I would believe the results that you had at 4 weeks and would not feel the need to have further testing performed. I still feel that way. On the other hand, our official statement will continue to line up with the advice of our CDC colleagues who have stated that 4th generation tests in exposed persons are conclusive at 6 weeks (42 days). I have also indicated that the event you are concerned about does not constitute a meaningful exposure.

This will end this thread which will be closed shortly without further replies. I wish you the best. EWH

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