[Question #7097] Risk/Conclusive results

61 months ago

Hello again gentleman,

I may have had an exposure around 2 months ago. It was a heterosexual encounter (in the USA) with a girl of unknown HIV status, she said she does get tested but it’s been a while. We engaged in deep, open mouth kissing and frottage/apposition (both nude, but no penetration I believe). I can’t specifically recall if my penis made direct contact with her vagina or anus. I took an RNA test at 18 days post encounter and an Oraquick test from the pharmacy at 50 days post.

Did this encounter present any risk to begin with, and are my tests conclusive if so?

Thanks again for your help.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

61 months ago

Welcome back, but I'm confused. The timing suggests this is the same exposure you and I discussed a month ago. However, some of the details are different: vaginal sex with broken condom, and now you say you're uncertain about penetration. You also spoke last time having RNA testing plus an AgAb blood test; now you say RNA plus Oraquick. The last discussion was only a month ago, so if you had a new exposure, I don't see how there has been enough time for you to have had the Oraquick test almost 2 months ago (50 days).

So please post a clearer timeline and questions. In the meantime, I'll say that as you describe the event this time -- kissing, frottage, and probably no penetration -- it was entirely risk free in regard to HIV and you didn't need testing. But the combination of negative RNA testing at 18 days and Oraquick at 50 days would be nearly 100% conclusive. For truly conclusive testing, you'll need an AgAb test at least 6 weeks after the exposure.

Perhaps I'll have more to say if you'd like the clarify the timing and details suggested above.

HHH, MD

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61 months ago

My apologies for the confusion sir, this is a different encounter than one we had last discussed , it just occurred right around the time we had our last conversation.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

61 months ago

OK, thanks.

HIV is never transmitted sexually unless there is penile penetration into the vagina or rectum. If you are uncertain about penetration, then almost certainly there was not sufficient penetration to risk catching HIV. The virus is not transmitted by kissing.

So as I said above, you didn't need HIV testing. And as I said, the combination of tests you had is nearly conclusive, but if you feel you need a truly conclusive blood test, have another HIV AgAb (4th generation, duo) test.

Currently the main health risk from sex with someone outside your household is from coronavirus. Sex is the polar opposite of social distancing. This is a bad time to be having casual or new sex partners. Think seriously about putting such events on hold for the next several months.

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61 months ago

Okay thank you, I think I was too focused on the fact that my tests may not be conclusive, as opposed to the fact that my encounter didn’t really warrant testing to begin with. And you raise a fair point about corona, I’ll refrain from such things until we’re finally through this.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

61 months ago

Thanks for the thanks. I'm glad to have helped. Best wishes and stay safe.---