I hate to ask another question especially knowing it may be deleted but I’m confused as to why the insistence that my 18 day test is conclusive. It would be reassuring but I don’t understand why everybody gets told 4 or 6 weeks after an unprotected sexual act except for me in this case. I likely had unprotected sex with a man who’s had unprotected sex with a female partner before me. Neither of them have been recently tested so their status is unknown. I had a 4th generation test at only 18 days after the exposure. So should I take another 4th generation test at 28 days? Or is for some reason my 4th generation duo test conclusive at only 18 days?

It was my understanding that you had tested with a PCR test, sorry.  If that was the case, no further testing would be needed with a negative PCR test more than 11-12 days following exposure.  If it was not a PCR test, currently available 4th generation, HIV antigen/antibody tests are technically conclusive only at 6 weeks after exposure.  The combination of a negative PCR test at any time beyond 11-12 day plus a negative 4th generation test at 4 weeks would also be conclusive.  As described in my original reply, your risk was very, very low to start with.  I am confident that no matter when or how much you test related to your last possible unprotected exposure to your ex-BF, your tests will be negative.

Sorry if I was unclear earlier.  EWH

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Sorry I’m not sure how that happened considering I said I took a “duo” and then a “4th generation test” and only mentioned “RNA” when I asked if you would advise that I test with RNA at this point. Since I’ve already paid to be clarify my actual lack of conclusiveness I’ll ask again if you think I should with RNA at this point or should I wait until 28 days to test with 4th generation? And then another 6 weeks? 

Also again is my risk still “very very low” if my boyfriend has NOT been tested after having unprotected sex with his ex girlfriend? He only tested BEFORE having sex with her and she has never been tested. (Sorry for perhaps the over clarification I just don’t want to risk another miscommunication)

Despite your boyfriend's unwillingness to test again, as I explained earlier, Epidemiologically your risk is very low.  In the U.S., less than 1% of the population and of this the majority of infected persons are men who have sex with male partners and also the majority of Americans with HIV know that they are infected.  His negative earlier test before a prior heterosexual relationship makes it unlikely that he acquired HIV in the interval sense testing.   Thus from this perspective it is unlikely that your partner had HIV.  Then IF you had an unprotected exposure (you noted you were not sure), your risk for infection is less than I infection per 1000 encounters.  Thus, doing the conservative figures, your risk of having gotten HIV is less than 1 in 100,000 and probably less than 1 in a million. THEN you tested at day 18 when AT LEAST 50% of infections would be detected.  The likelihood that you are infected is very, very low.---

Thank you for your last reply I know it is meant to be reassuring but as probably everybody with this anxiety knows that 1 in a million chance is still a chance. I know epidemiologically the US is low risk but specifically I and my ex and his ex all live in Central Florida. More to the west coast, but as I’m sure you know Orlando has had increasing rates of infection which is a big cause of my concern. We’re all college students who just turned 21 this year. No IV drug users. 

With all due respect, your risk is far lower than your chance of being stuck by lightening.  Remember that the figures I provided were all conservative and your true risk is likely far lower. 

There is no meaningful difference between a 27 day and 28 day test.  In both cases, I am confident that yours will be negative.  I urge you to accept your results when you get them an move forward.

This will be the final reply as part of this thread.  As per Forum Guidelines this thread will now be closed.  EWH

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