Thanks for providing this service. I had an unprotected exposure with a guy, about a year and a half ago (i'm female). I got tested for hiv and hep c at 17 months past exposure.the hiv tests were antibody-only tests. All were negative. I have two questions about this.

1) i Read that a simultaneous exposure/infection to hiv and hep c could delay the hiv seroconversion. Is this true? Is my negative hiv antibody test results conclusively negative? 

2) my hiv antibody test was at 17 months post exposure. It was negative. If i had covid19 and didnt know about it while i got tested for hiv with the antibody test, could the covid19 give a false negative for hiv antibody? 

Thanks in advance!

Kath

1.  There is a widespread miss perception that hepatitis C is sexually transmitted. In fact, Except for Uninfected percent participating in receptive rectal intercourse with an untreated hepatitis C infected person, sexual transmission of hepatitis C is virtually nonexistent.  Second, the data that simultaneous coinfection with hepatitis C (or any other form of hepatitis) and HIV can delay development of positive test results for either infection are non conclusive and poor. If any prolongation occurs it is not clinically meaningful. Thus, your results are conclusive and should be believed.

2.  There is no scientific or medical reason to believe that having COVID-19 (symptomatic or asymptomatic) would cause a false negative test for HIV. Once again I would urge you to believe your test results. You did not require HIV.

I hope for the information I have provided has been helpful. If my answers raise other questions or if any part of my response is unclear please use your up to two follow-up questions for clarification. EWH

Thank you for your clear answers. I have just one more question that popped into my mind last night. 

If you have had covid19, you produce antibodies for covid 19. Could these covid19 antibodies interfere with a hiv antibody test, leading to a false negative antibody test for hiv? 

Thanks again,

Kath

Thanks for the response, it has helped a lot.

So, just to wrap it up, i'm conclusively negative for hiv with my hiv antibody test at 17 months past exposure, even if i would have had covid19 at the time of testing for hiv and even if i would have had covid 19 antibodies at the time of testing for hiv? 

Thanks again,

Kath

As you know, we provide up to three responses to each client’s questions.  This completes this thread.  Take care, please don’t worry. EWH