My sore throat started last week on Monday. I tested that Friday (4-5 days after it started) and my throat was still sore. The test was negative, but my sore throat didn’t end until yesterday. (10 days after it began and 6 days after testing). Does that mean my sore throat has nothing to do with ARS? Or should I test again now that my sore throat is over? Basically I want to know with symptomatic HIV, can tests become positive while ars symptoms are still present or do you have to wait for them to be gone to test and have it be reliable?

Also could I take an RNA test at 20 or 21 days and have it be somewhat reassuring? 

I reviewed your recent discussions with Dr. Hook and agree with all he said. The direct answer to your question is yes:  if your sore throat were due to HIV, your blood test would have been positive. The symptoms of new HIV infection are caused by the immune response to the virus, not HIV itself. Therefore, you cannot have HIV symptoms with a negative antibody test. In addition, new HIV almost never causes sore throat as the main or only symptom; if you had it, you would have several other symptoms as well, primarily skin rash, inflamed lymph nodes, and/or fever. Finally, you had both a partner and an exposure that were essentially free of HIV risk. There is simply no chance you have HIV.

Could you have an RNA test? Sure. But I don't recommend it. However, if negative it would further confirm your symptoms are not caused by HIV.

I hope these comments help you move along the path to understanding an believing you don't have HIV! Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

When you say my exposure was essentially no risk, do you mean my giving oral to a straight man? Dr. Hook described it as low risk. I’m not sure how long it lasted but I did taste some precum however he ejaculated on my chest not in my mouth. Does that lower the risk? 

If I were to test with rna at 20 days or a 4th gen at 4 weeks would you consider it conclusive for my exposure? I’m not sure what the risk is for giving fellatio because there’s a lot of mixed info online. Thank you. 

Exposure: Giving oral to a guy (no ejaculation in mouth) 

Symptoms: sore throat for 10 days and 100.1 temp for a couple of hours 

Tests: 4th gen test at 10 days post exposure and 5 days post symptom onset. 

Since it is already conclusive that you do not have HIV, it will still be conclusive after a negative RNA test. As I said, I think testing is pointless. But if you feel you must do it, feel free.

Thank you for all your help 

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