My issue is I took a test at 6 weeks post exposure but my phlebotomist didn’t exactly stick to code. As I’m sure you know it’s common for phlebotomists to call you up then ask an identifying question (DOB or address) to verify they have the correct patient for the correct test. However mine did not that and so I’m concerned my test results may not actually be MY results from MY blood because of this error she made which could’ve led to a patient or test mix up. 

I hate getting my blood drawn so I really would like to not have to go again but I want to ask you guys, are my 2 week RNA test and 4 week 4th generation test considered conclusive if my partner was positive? 

Thank you. 

No worries -- for sure you did not catch HIV. The combination of negative RNA at 2 weeks plus negative AgAb (4th generation) testing at 4 weeks is 100% conclusive.

You didn't need the 6 week test. I don't see much risk that somehow the lab mixed up your specimen with someone else's:  the large majority of clinical labs are exceedingly careful about such things. Almost certainly your blood tube was labeled with your unique identifier (probably including a barcode) before the blood was even drawn. But if not, of course I have no better way than you do of knowing exactly what happened. But with the negative results on all your tests, you really needn't be worried about it. You're home free in regard to HIV!

I hope this information is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

Here's the mathematic reasoning. Let's assign some estimated odds to the various elements of risk. The chance your partner had HIV 1 in 1,000. The chance of transmission if he di 1 in 1,000. (From those two estimates alone, the chance you caught HIV was around 1 in a million.) The chance your 12 day RNA test missed an HIV infection is around 10%. The chance your 4 week AgAb test also missed it is around 1%. So the chance you have HIV calculate as 0.001 x 0.001 x 0.1 x 0.01 = 0.00000001, or one in 100 million. If that isn't zerorisk, I don't know what is! (Putting it in perspective, if you live in the US, the National Safety Council esimates there's 1 chance in 1,756 of any particular American dying of an accident (vehicular, fall, drowning, fire, etc, etc) per year. In other words, the odds youll be gone in the next 12 months from an accident are 57,000 times higher than the possibility you have HIV!

So I guess my final advice is to stop worrying about HIV -- but don't forget your seat belt and check those fire alarm batteries!

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each thread and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.