[Question #8563] Need help understanding my HIV results. After 16 days of possible exposure.
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42 months ago
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Hello I recently asked a question about HIV on this website. I did a test after about 16 days of a possible exposure.
The doctor told me it was a combined antigen and antibody test. However I was too anxious and forgot to ask further questions about the tests.
The test came back negative, however there are some terms that I don't understand.
● Test: HIV (1&2 abs and p24 Ag) serum
● Result: Negative
● COI units: Negative
● Methodology: ECLIA
Does HIV 1 & 2 abs mean ANTIBODIES for HIV type 1 and 2, and p24 are the are ANTIGENS?
So that means that it was a combined test for these two things?
After a low risk exposure does that mean that it can be considered conclusive after 16 days?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
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Welcome back to our forum. On this occasion I happen to pick up your question. In preparing to reply, I reviewed your earlier interaction with Dr. Handsfield and agree completely with him that the encounter you describe what is a virtually no risk event. The testing that you have performed most recently at 16 days following your encounter provides proof that your symptoms were not due to HIV. While 16 days is early for conclusive test result in persons who do not have symptoms, in those with symptoms a negative test proves clearly that you were symptoms were not due to HIV. A test would not however the entirely conclusive until six weeks following the exposure. At four weeks over 98% of persons would have developed a positive test and, as I mentioned, at six weeks results are entirely conclusive.
Regarding your other questions: you are correct that the term “HIV 1&2 abs” refers to antibodies and the term “p24” Refers to the p24 HIV antigen. Thus the test that you had performed was a fourth generation, combination HIV antibodies/antigen test which is currently the gold standard for HIV diagnosis.
In summary then, your risk from HIV for the encounter you described was very, very low and virtually zero. Your recent HIV test confirms that the symptoms you experienced recently were not due to HIV. If you wish to prove to yourself that you did not get HIV my advice would be to repeat the test six weeks following your encounter.
I hope this information is helpful. If they were further questions or you need additional clarification, please don’t hesitate to use your up to follow ups for that purpose. Please don’t worry. EWH
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