In my last question you advised me to test one more time. Tomorrow  I am scheduled to have an alere rapid duo test.  I have several very quick questions.  I have read varying opinions on this forum about if having covid affects test results.

One additional fact;

I also was diagnosed by two different dermatologists.  had a irritated skins and pimple things on my lower butt.  One said I had a fungal infection.  One said I had foliculitis and intertrigo.

I was prescribed nyastatin powder.  I thought it could be from working out and leaving the wet clothes on or from shaving that region.

Could this be Ars?

I had the following  covid shots 

shot 1-          1/26/21

shot 2-         2/22/21

booster-      10/30/21

Does this affect hiv testing?

Questions 1-5 and your concluding additional comment/question:  There is no evidence that COVID or COVID vaccines have any effect at all on the reliability, timing, window period, or any other aspect of HIV testing.

6. This was discussed in your previous thread. Yes for conclusive HIV2 testing at 8 weeks.

7. ARS symptoms typically start 7-10 days after infection and are gone entirely by 3-4 weeks.

The symptoms of ARS are caused by the immune system, and therefore the blood test ALWAYS is positive in people with ARS. In other words, your negative test results prove that any and all symptoms you had were not possibly due to ARS. And anyway, folliculitis and intertrigo do not suggest ARS.

From my concluding remarks on your previous thread:  "Please note the forum does not permit repeated questions on the same topics, exposures, etc. This being your second, it will have to be your last:  future questions along these lines will be subject to deletion without reply and without refund of the posting fee." This policy definitely will be followed if you post any more questions on these issues.

2,5,6. You should know the answers from previous discussions. What isn't clear in statements like "all results after 6 weeks are conclusive"???

3. Yes of course -- which also is obvious with a little common sense and reflection. We refuse to spend time and energy answering the same questions sent with different wording!

4. Also discussed previously, including that the HIV test results are to be believed regardless of what symptoms or other problems are present. That includes oral thrush. And yes it is true that thrush generally is a complication of advanced, life-threatening AIDS.

Good morning.  I wanted to provide an update and ask my final questions:

To try and rule out HIV-2 I was tested via the alere rapid duo at 55 days.  The result was negative.

Last night I went to a wedding and drank quite a bit.  When I got home a noticed a white thrush type sore on my inner cheek.  I scraped it off.  But of course its anxiety causing.  This was exactly 10 weeks post risk.

Questions-

1. Is 10 weeks post exposure to late to be ARS even if it resulted from HIV-2?

2. What is the ARS timing?  I heard the latest is 6 weeks?

3. Do I need yet another hiv test because of the thrush last night?

4. Dr. Hook said a Covid infection can rarely cause false positive tests.  Have you seen this? Is it just if you are actively sick from Covid?

5. While some studies show having HPV increases your risk to acquire HIV.  I always use condoms with new partners but that doesnt mean a tiny wart is see or covered. You do not think this is a concern?

5.  My final question is repeat because I did not really understand your response.  In my previous post you said "once a person is carrying yeast they often regrow and cause symptoms,  This usually does not indicate an immune deficiency." Does that mean hiv antibody tests would not work for me (I know the antigen portion would pick up hiv-1 but not hiv-2)? Or would I have to be extremely immune impaired / sick for this to be a concern? THIS is my biggest concern.  Would the antibody portion still catch an hiv-2 infection?

2. What is the ARS timing?  I heard the latest is 6 weeks? Six weeks is too long. Usual onset 10-14 days, rarely if ever longer than 3 weeks.

3. Do I need yet another hiv test because of the thrush last night? No, you do not. I don't accept the premise that you have an oral yeast infection (thrush). There are plenty of other causes of white patches in the mouth. But even if you had thrush, it would make no difference:  nothing overrules a negative AgAb test when done more than 6 weeks after exposure (or 8 weeks to include HIV1).

4. COVID false negative tests? I've never had such a case. If it occurs, it is vanishingly rare and not a serious consideration.

5. ...some studies show having HPV increases your risk to acquire HIV. That is not the scientific consensus. HPV has little or no effect on susceptibility to HIV infection.

5a. You are overthinking this. It just means that even if you have yeast infections, the blood test results tell the truth about HIV status. There are no exceptions.

6. Yes, you should be continuing regular unprotected sex with your partner.

Please note the forum rule against repeated anxiety driven questions on the same topic. ASHA does not want to collect fees for questions with obvious answers. Continuing such discussions tends to just trigger "yes but" or "what if" questions that tend to prolong anxiety rather than relieving it. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Repeated questions are subject to being deleted without reply and without refund of the posting fee. Thank you for your understanding. I do hope the recent discussions have been helpful.