[Question #8671] HIV PCR test
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41 months ago
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Good evening Dr
I have a question. 9 and 6 days after a possible exposure (actually in the 10th and 7th day but not the whole 240 hours and 168 hours) I started to feel a little sick. Small muscle aches, like a pressure point. A little naucious. I don’t think I had a fever but I didn’t take my temperature until 16 hours in. Symptoms lasted a day. So I immediately went and got a PCR test.
As you saw in my other post, I think I have HSV 2, which I’m going to do the WB test soon. My first risk was with a high risk person, she is an IDU, (Not judging her) with multiple partners unprotected. I did protected oral, vaginal, and anal, followed by removing the condom and masturbating to finish (I made sure my penis didn’t touch her mouth bare). But I may have had residual vaginal fluid on my hand from masturbating a little with the condom on after vaginal.
My second risk was with someone I don’t think is high risk, not sure though. It was protected oral and vaginal, followed by removing the condom and masturbating to finish.
My question is, if my symptoms were due to an acute HIV infection, would you expect my PCR test to be positive at this time?
I’ve ceased all sexual activity with my normal partner until I sort this out. I plan to PCR test at 2 weeks, and regular HIV test at 4 weeks.
Thank you
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
41 months ago
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Welcome back to the forum. On this occasion I happen to pick up your most recent questions. To prepare to address your questions I reviewed your interaction last week with Dr. Handsfield and Ms Warren and agree with all that they said. The exposures that you describe were condom protected and Condom protected exposures are basically safe sex. This is the case irrespective of whether you have herpes or not, which you very well may not. Further, whether or not your partners were “high risk” or not is irrelevant. Your risk from the exposures you describe is still infinitesimal. Your HIV PCR tests, while too early to be defended, absolutely prove that the symptoms you were experiencing we’re not due to HIV.
While I will not try to discourage you from further testing, I really do not think it is necessary. The encounters you described were low risk and the probability of acquiring HIV, even in the unlikely scenario that your partners were infected, is likewise very, very small. I see no meaningful reason to abstain from unprotected sex with your regular partner.
I hope this perspective and information is helpful to you. EWH
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41 months ago
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Thank you very much for the write up Dr.
To clarify I don’t have the PCR results back, I just took it today. When I do, I’d they are negative, they won’t be conclusive, but suggest that these symptoms were not caused by HIV, is what I’m understanding you’re saying.
I’ll think about the further testing. If I look at it scientifically, like you said the risk is very low, and I’m not really freaking out. Just being as responsible as possible before resuming sex with my regular partner (and hopefully never stepping out again).
I don’t know if you can comment on this, if not it’s ok I’ll ask Terri when I do the WB. I don’t understand, and I can’t really find any literature, how if I’ve had negative HSV 2 tests for years, and then suddenly they are consistently positive, albeit off levels below 3.0, it may be likely that I don’t have it. I don’t know what would be causing the tests to react positive.
Thank you
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
41 months ago
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Correct. Your PCR results, which will be negative will prove that your symptoms were not due to HIV. However they will not be conclusive. OTOH the exposures you describe were virtually no risk.
You’ll have to ask Terri your questions about the Western blot, once you have the results. EWH
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41 months ago
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Ok, will do. Thank you Dr.