[Question #6438] Hand job and test window period
15 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
15 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your question. We're pleased to be able to help and to clarify much of the all too common misinformation which is widespread on the internet.
Before I address your specific questions, I'll provide some general comments. STIs are less common than widely believed and not particularly easy to spread. Even persons who engage in commercial sex work are typically not infected and when they are DIRECT, penetrative sexual contact is typically required for transmission. Even with direct contact, STIs are only transmitted on a fraction of exposures. STIs are NOT transmitted through non-penetrative touching, hand to genital contact (even when genital secretions are transferred in the course of sexual activity such as massage or mutual masturbation). Thus the events you describe were no risk events- had you asked if any testing was needed from a medical or scientific perspective, the answer would have been an emphatic no. With that background, let me address your specific questions:
I hope this information is helpful to you. EWH
15 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
15 months ago
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1. The recommendation for testing for HIV 12 weeks after a possible exposure is an outdated concept reflecting less sensitive tests and concepts that have now been shown to be overly conservative.
2. No vaccine or medicine, other than medicines superficially designed to treat HIV would interfere with a test for HIV. Certainly the flu vaccine would have no effect, including no increased risk for false positive tests. EWH
15 months ago
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
15 months ago
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Thanks for your thanks. I encourage you to accept your test results and defer any further testing- it is not needed and your results are conclusive.
This thread will be closed shortly. Take care. EWH