I am concerned about symptoms my girlfriend is having and the need for HIV testing. On 3/28 she suddenly had symptoms of what she thought was a yeast infection. She went to OB/GYN on 4/2 and was told it was herpes which was later confirmed by swab taken on 4/2 as HSV1. At the same time she complained of feeling slightly feverish, nausea, diarrhea, light night sweat and joint pain. She was prescribed valtrex on 4/2 and everything cleared approximately 1 week later. Prior to her symptoms we had vaginal sex several times between 3/16-3/25. I was away traveling 3/2-3/13 and before that we had vaginal sex 2/21-2/23. Since her outbreak I have also now had some night sweats which has me worried. I immediately went for STD testing on 4/2 (including 4th generation) and then on 4/6 (RNA early detection) and again on 4/15 (4th generation). All performed at Labcorp and negative for me except HSV1. She also tested negative for STDs except HSV1 on 4/9.  Is there a chance this was more than HSV and one or both of us could be HIV positive and not know, e.g., from exposure prior to the dates mentioned back to February? Should I be worried about the time we were apart beginning March? 

Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your question.  I’ll do my best to help.  From what you have written it sounds as though your GF acquired genital HSV-1, perhaps through receipt of oral sex.  At about the same time she experienced flu-like symptoms which may have been related to her initial HSV outbreak or could have been a coincidental viral illness unrelated to HSV.  Now you have experienced night sweats as well and are wondering if this could be a manifestation of HIV (I hope my summary is correct, if not please correct me).  ---

Thank you. To confirm, we both had HIV tests as part of the screens on the dates mentioned. I had HIV 4th generation on 4/2 and 4/15 and HIV-1 RNA on 4/6 all at Labcorp. My girlfriend had HIV 4th generation on 4/9, approximately 1 week after her outbreak. There are no other partners in the dates mentioned 2/21-3/25. We are wondering if the HIV could have been acquired prior to that and just not shown up in these tests and if we should get further testing before moving on because I am feeling paranoid about one or both of us having hiv and it not showing in the tests. Thanks again.

Thanks for the additional information.  You can be entirely confident that neither of you has HIV and that your symptoms are not due to HIV.  Currently available fourth generation tests for HIV or amongst the most sensitive and reliable tests in all of medicine. At any time more than six weeks following an exposure results are entirely reliable. Furthermore, when persons have symptoms that are due to HIV, these tests are always positive. You are both in the clear. Please don’t worry. EWH---

Thank you again. I just want to confirm that I have understood correctly and ask a few final questions.

I do understand your levels of concern. What’s these sorts of serious arise it is difficult to set them aside. That said, you have correctly understood my comments. Specifically:---