[Question #6211] 5 Week Testing
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69 months ago
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Hi Doctors,
Here is my situation.
My last possible "exposure" was approximately 5 weeks ago. I know enough from reading all your other answers to the questions posted what my risks are/aren't, so I won't waste a lot of time with very many details, but anyway...
About 5 weeks ago, I (a male) had protected sex (vaginal) and light frottage (unprotected) with a woman of unknown status.
Question: I'm not particularly concerned about this one event I listed above, but I am getting ready to depart the country for about 4-5 weeks for work and I'd like to get tested before leaving for everything, but would like to make sure this last event is included in the testing windows even though I know the risks are pretty nil...
Would like to add I have no symptoms of anything, but since I'm leaving the country I want to be sure as I have no idea how the healthcare works where I'm going.
Anyway, latest I can wait to get my results back before I leave would be at about 5 weeks and 1 (or possibly 2) days.......so 36 or 37 days.
Main questions surrounds the HIV and Syphillis testing. I've read several places they need to be a 6 weeks to be conclusive, now but I've read some older posts that used to be 28 days for the 4th Gen HIV test.
Basically, given my everything above, should I go forward with the tests at 36-37 days, or should I push back my trip a week and wait until the 42 day mark to get tested? I am self-employed, so I can push my trip back if I need/want to, but it will cost me considerable $$$ to do so, but will do it if its warranted or there is a solid reason to do so. Basically is there much difference (from you personal opinion/experience), in testing at 36-37 days vs 42 days for the two tests I mention above?
Thank you in advance!
T
Here is my situation.
My last possible "exposure" was approximately 5 weeks ago. I know enough from reading all your other answers to the questions posted what my risks are/aren't, so I won't waste a lot of time with very many details, but anyway...
About 5 weeks ago, I (a male) had protected sex (vaginal) and light frottage (unprotected) with a woman of unknown status.
Question: I'm not particularly concerned about this one event I listed above, but I am getting ready to depart the country for about 4-5 weeks for work and I'd like to get tested before leaving for everything, but would like to make sure this last event is included in the testing windows even though I know the risks are pretty nil...
Would like to add I have no symptoms of anything, but since I'm leaving the country I want to be sure as I have no idea how the healthcare works where I'm going.
Anyway, latest I can wait to get my results back before I leave would be at about 5 weeks and 1 (or possibly 2) days.......so 36 or 37 days.
Main questions surrounds the HIV and Syphillis testing. I've read several places they need to be a 6 weeks to be conclusive, now but I've read some older posts that used to be 28 days for the 4th Gen HIV test.
Basically, given my everything above, should I go forward with the tests at 36-37 days, or should I push back my trip a week and wait until the 42 day mark to get tested? I am self-employed, so I can push my trip back if I need/want to, but it will cost me considerable $$$ to do so, but will do it if its warranted or there is a solid reason to do so. Basically is there much difference (from you personal opinion/experience), in testing at 36-37 days vs 42 days for the two tests I mention above?
Thank you in advance!
T
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
69 months ago
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Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your confidence in our services and your clear and understandable question.
I would advise you to be tested before departing. It seems likely that the wonder and worry about all this might interfere with the upcoming travel pleasure (or work if its a professional trip).
You are correct that the exposure seems to have had little risk for any STD, and absebce if symptoms like a non-healing sore, genital area blisters/sores, or abnormal discharge from your penis make infection even more unlikely. A syphilis blood test now will be 95-98% conclusive; in combinaiton with the nearly zero risk for that infection, you can consider it truly conclusive, even if you decide to have a final confirmatory test beyond 6 weeks, i.e. after you return home. For HIV, the antigen-antibody test (AgAb, 4th generation) is close to 99% conclusive at 5 weeks; if we guessimate the risk you caught HIV at 1 in a million (it probably was even lower), then a negative result now drops those odds to 1 in a hundred million, which I hope you would agree is zero for all practical purposes. Or you could spend more and have both an AgAb and RNA test now. THe combination of negative on both these tests is 100% conclusive any time 4+ weeks after exposure.
If you haven't been tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia, urine testing is conclusive any time 4-5 days after exposure, and a definitive result can be had before your travels start.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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69 months ago
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Yes sir....reply is very clear and helpful as well. Thank You for the quick reply. Feel fee to close the thread as well as my questions have been answered accordingly
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
69 months ago
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Thanks for the thanks. I'm glad to have hellped.---