[Question #8167] Testing reliability

48 months ago

Hi Doctors again, this is my 3rd and last question since my last exposure (See thread #8126). I was quite reassured by Dr. Handsfield saying that I’m risk free already on the previous thread. But I kept forgetting to ask other questions. Sorry again for bothering.

Below will be my questions:

1) Due to my anxiety and the symptoms I experienced in this few weeks, I just can’t stop thinking about it. Im now planning on taking a HIV Combo test at the 3rd week, I know this is not conclusive, but how reliable will be if I take it at 3rd week?

2) I surely will take the Combo test again on the 4th week plus a RNA test too. Can both test adding together be conclusive at 4 weeks? (It’s quite suffering to wait until 6 weeks)

3) I just counted on the calendar, I might need to do the test 1 day earlier, which is 27 days since exposure. Since it’s one day ahead of the total 4 weeks (28 days), will this make any big difference? I’m unable to do the test on 28days since it is Saturday and the results will come out on next Monday.

4) If I wanted to test for syphilis too, when will be a good time for a conclusive test?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

48 months ago

Welcome back, but still these questions are superfluous. They were answered -- or the answers should be obvious -- from the discussions in your two previous threads. Also, your wording suggests you may misunderstand something about the forum. For each question, there is normally a maximum of 3 replies, i.e. the initial response plus answers to two follow-up or clarifying questions. There is no limit to the number of new questions, if they are about different topics. But that means entirely different topics, not minor variations on the initial question and issues, which is what your second and third questions have been. Repeated questions on the same topic are not permitted -- and are at risk for deletion without reply.

For these reasons, my replies to your current questions are very succinct and this must be your last question that has anything to do with the non-risky events described and your concerns about HIV as a result.

1) About 90% reliable.

2) That combination (AgAb test plus RNA at 4 weeks) will be 100% conclusive.

3) One day makes no difference. The data on test performance are not so precise.

4) Six weeks after exposure.

HHH, MD

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48 months ago

Thank you Dr. Handsfield, totally understood that this will be my last post regarding to my non risky event.

Since I will take test this week and next week also,

I would want to know:

1) I just took my second shot Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on August 19, will this affect the test results? Such as false positive or false negative?

2) Similar to question 1, due to a deep cut, I also took one tetanus shot on August 22, which is 2 days ago. Will this shot affect the test results?

3) this is not HIV related, but I just can’t find any answer online, not sure is it appropriate to ask it here, if not, just ignore this question. Is it safe to take both the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and the tetanus shot that soon (within 3 days)? Will it cause any bad side effects or severe health issues?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

48 months ago

1,2) There are no known medical conditions or drugs that affect HIV test reliability, and no evidence that any vaccine does so.

3) Having more than one vaccine soon after the other -- or even at the same time -- does not interfere with effectiveness of either vaccine. Indeed, some vaccines are normally combined and given simultaneously, such as hep A and B vaccines; flu vaccine, covering both influenza A and B; and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine for kids. I doubt there is any interference between tetanus and COVID-19 vaccines.---

48 months ago

Thank you Dr. Handsfield. Before going to take a 3rd week combo test, I might need some psychological support to calm myself down these few days before Friday. Just one last, last question, and there won’t be anymore question again from me regarding to this event. I just need more reassuring support to give myself more confidence. Below will be my last question and some personal experience in these few weeks I wanna share a bit, and also lastly a short thank you paragraph.

———Due to my non-risky event and my 10days RNA test, are you confident that all my future test regarding to this event will be negative (even assuming she’s HIV positive person)? ————

I’ve been reading and searching lots and lots of similar question as mines in this forum in these days, the answers I saw were: even if the person masturbates you has any body fluid (semen or vaginal fluid) on hand is still not a risk.

I know, I really know, I keep telling myself everyday every minute that my risk is not a risk, keep re-reading the answers from you or Dr. Hook to other posts and even my post. Sometimes staring at my 10days RNA not detected report, I know I’ll be fine, and I swear to god I will never let myself into such a moments again, doing stupid stuff like this. Keep thinking what-ifs is just driving me extremely crazy, there won’t be that much what-ifs. What if tomorrow a truck smash into my home, right?

Sorry for reading my long “essay” , really apologise for it. I know the questions I kept asking is repetitive and might make you feel that I don’t believing experts like you, I know it’s very annoying and bothering seeing patients having psychological issues like mines. Again, I really apologise for any offence to your profession, I might not know. It’s quite long, but I just need someone to listen from me, it’s kinda stuck now since I really doesn’t have anyone to talk to specially about this issues.

Thank you again for all your help, a million thanks to it, your professional response, your patience, really did helped me a lot. It’s just my anxiety is killing me. This last reply might be too long, or maybe you won’t finish reading it till the end, but the only word I can really say now is Thank you, thank you for pulling me out from the abyss.

Although it’s really great that you’ve helped me a lot, but I know this might not be a good ending sentence: Hopefully in the future I will remember anything happens this month, and will never experience the same thing and maybe not being back to this forum. Lastly, wish you and Dr. Hook and the whole forum all the best, and hoping all other Patients can return back from the fear and live back in their happy life! Thank you!

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

48 months ago

Thanks for the thanks; I'm glad to have helped (again). And yes I am 100% "...confident that all [your] future test regarding to this event will be negative (even assuming she’s HIV positive person)".

We definitely take no offense; that is not the reason for discouraging questions like yours. However, it isn't the forum's task to provide "psychological support to calm [yourself] down...", which is why we discourage (and at times delete) excessive anxiety driven questions. In addition, such discussions provide little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main goals. We provide science-based facts and opinions, nothing more: once users have seen those reassurances, we have nothing more to offer.

My final advice is to be careful about making promises to yourself about such exposures in the future, as implied by "will never experience the same thing...." Most people succumb again to such temptations. But if you do, there will be no need to return to the forum: You now have all the answers you will need in that event. Thank you for your understanding.

I do hope these discussions have been helpful. Take care and stay safe.

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