I had an exposure last year with a girl- mutual mastrubation , and used sex toys( didn't share, used a brand new one and cleaned it before using). No penetrative sex involved. I had few HIV 4th gen and RNA tests after the exposure at 6 weeks, 3 moths and 6 moths and 7 moths. Its been almost an year now since that incident. I read on internet that it might take an year for the tests to turn positivte in some cases. Do you recommend taking another test at 1 year mark or can I safe assume am HIV negative and stop worrying about that exposure. Thanks again

I'm sorry you've been worried (maybe obsessed?) with this issue for a year. You describe an entirely risk free sexual exposure, with no chance of HIV transmission. For two reasons:  the chance any particular sexually active woman in the US has HIV is extremely low; almost certainly your partner wasn't infected. Second, HIV is never sexually transmitted without intercourse. Third, the tests you had were conclusive and prove you don't have it. On top of all that, your anxieties have led you to online searching that -- as for many anxious persons -- is finding information that inflames your fears while ignoring the factual information available. There are no scientifically based sites that would ever say it takes a year for HIV tests to become positive. With the current tests -- including the ones you had -- there has never been a single person, anywhere in the world, with negative results who actually had HIV.

I have to wonder if sex itself is the cause of your anxieties. Whatever the cause, do your best to move on without further worry. And for sure don't have any more HIV tests!

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

Based on your response, I never had any risk from my incidents and my 4th gen and RNA test results at 3,6 and 7 months were 100% conclusive.

I will stop worrying about this and move on and won't take any more tests.

Sorry for repeating Dr and thanks again.