[Question #8958] HIV-2 test at 60 days

37 months ago

Hi, weeks 2-4 post-exposure I had joint pain, felt feverish (didn’t test my temp), some night sweats, and muscle pain, potential thrush. Negative PCR test at 18 days. Then negative 4th gen at 32 days. Felt fine until day 50 when joint pain and muscle ache, potential thrush, and feverish feeling (this time tested, never seemed to be too hot, sometimes a bit cold) returned but now with intense Nausea and a rash on feet (red dots on ankles and on top of feet). 53 days negative home blood test, 60 days negative 4th gen test.

My main worry now is HIV-2 as only antibodies have been tested. Is a 4th gen test at 60 days conclusive for HIV-2? At the very least, can it rule out that symptoms starting 10 days before the test are from HIV? The symptoms have largely subsided the day after the test as well if that means something with regards to antibody production. I just find it hard to believe that I don't have HIV as all the symptoms come and go at the same time- including that rash. This happened with the first set of symptoms at 2-4 weeks too and they definitely can't be from HIV (right?) given my testing so that's reassuring, but it's harder to believe when physical manifestations go at the same time too (rash). So my questions - do I conclusively not have HIV-2? If not, are my symptoms at 50 days conclusively not caused by HIV-2? And could either of these questions be impacted by the fact that I'm not sleeping much or eating well at the moment - i.e. that could delay antibody production? Thanks.

37 months ago

sorry i accidentally went over the limit - can i repost?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

37 months ago

Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your question. The tone of your question suggests that you have been searching for information regarding HIV on the internet and been misled. First, the results of your multiple 4th generation tests absolutely rule out the possibility of HIV-2, as well as HIV-1. FYI, if you have located in the U.S. there are fewer than 50 cases of HIV-2 that occur in the U.S. each year and these cases occur virtually entirely in persons from or who have had sex with someone from West Africa or India. Also FYI, the symptoms you describe, while being described as related to HIV are non-specific and are associated with a multitude of other causes including common, every-day non-STI viral illnesses, COVID-19 and many chronic, non-STI illnesses. Further, the symptoms of HIV do not come and go in the manner you describe.

My sincere advice is for you to believe your test results. Current tests for HIV (1 and -2) are amongst the most reliable tests in all of medicine. If your symptoms persist, I suggest you see your regular health care provider for evaluation. EWH

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37 months ago

don’t want to obfuscate the issue - the symptoms haven’t came and gone. The most recent set of symptoms, of which I have most concern, all came and left together - a 10 day issue. I tested negative for COVID, Gonnorhea, and chlymadia earlier on. At 60 days I got negative for all these tests - Syphilis IgG/IgM by EIA, Hepatitis A IgM antibodies Hep B surface Ag (HBsAg) Hep.C Ab ELISA ( 3rd Gen ) and I assume these rule out the symptoms being caused by them. The girl was a sex worker from Venezuela working in a part of a UK city with a lot of people of West African heritage. With the pattern of symptoms, the fact that she’s higher risk for HIV-2 than most people, and the other stuff being ruled out (potentially) you can understand my concern.

With that in mind - is hiv-2 conclusively ruled out by these tests? If yes, could it be any of the other stds I’ve tested or are they ruled out? Slightly unrelated, are the other std tests conclude in a general sense or do I need to retest some later? One thing I’d add just to cover all the bases - could I have a HIV-1/2 coinfection - given that I’ve had two ARS type events, and would that effect the testing? (And could bring very stressed etc. have had delayed the antibodies for hiv-2)?

37 months ago

*I don’t want to obfuscate

*Conclusive ( not conclude)

I’m happy to have extra replies here and not be refunded if that’s ok

Edward W. Hook M.D.

37 months ago

Thanks for the clarification. You have been thoroughly test and as long as those other tests were done following the onset of symptoms, you can be confident that the symptoms were NOT due to the infections you tested for. Further, any tests that were done more than 6 weeks after your exposure and that appears to be the case, then the results are entirely conclusive. EWH---

37 months ago

Thanks. Does ‘as long as those other tests were done following the onset of symptoms, you can be confident that the symptoms were NOT due to the infections you tested for’ include my test with regards to HIV-2?

Just to hammer it home - is it possible to not have my antibodies detected for hiv-2 10 days after the onset of symptoms?

Do I conclusively not have HIV in any form given my tests? - regardless of the potential of coinfection (hiv coinfecion or mono or COVID) and me not eating sleeping or generally living well during this ordeal?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

37 months ago

Yes, symptoms are typically due to the presence of the organism and host response to it. Your results are conclusive. If you were symptomatic when the test was perfromed and the test was negative, then you can be confident that you did not have the infection that you tested for. Believe your test results. EWH---

37 months ago

Just to clarify, that includes antibodies alone being tested (as was the case with hiv-2?

And is it also conclusive in the general sense?

symptoms aren’t due to hiv-2?

I don’t have hiv-2 in general, conclusively?

I don’t have any of the other STDs I tested for, conclusively?

4 -

coinfections of any combatination and/or being stressed/not sleeping well don’t impact the above answers?

I doubt you can answer but just because this is the biggest thing stopping me accepting my results - does my rash which came and went with my symptoms sound like a hiv rash - tiny flat red dots (almost like freckles) spreading from ankles to the top of my feet?

thank you for your time. I assume this is the last reply you’ll give me (if I have one more please let me know) so I just want to say I’ve spent the last 2 months reading you and Dr Handsfield on Medhelp an to reassure me and educate me. They’re brilliant resources and I can’t thank you enough for spreading your respective expertise. It’s kinda surreal to talk to one of you guys actually!

Just to clarify again (otherwise I’ll go crazy) - is this test conclusive for both hiv types?

Thanks

37 months ago

To add to 5-

Does it sound like another STD or mono/COVID/something else? - even stress

37 months ago

To add further to 5- I gave unprotected oral on her vagina and anus - just so you know I could’ve been exposed to pathogens from the anus and stuff if the potential cause of the rash as described (starting at 7 weeks lasting 10 days) could be something present in the anus

Edward W. Hook M.D.

37 months ago

My goodness. You are having trouble moving on. Current tests for HIV ( including HIV-2) are not only reliable but are amongst the most reliable tests in all of medicine. They are powerful tools for proving whether nonspecific symptoms such as yours are due to HIV. Your tests are negative and conclusive. Please believe them. Final brief responses as many of your follow up questions are repetitive:

1. Absolutely not

2. Conclusively, you are bot infected.

3. Correct

4. Repetitive- no change in my assessment

5. This rash sounds nothing like the rest of recently acquired HIV which is a generalized rush typically involving the chest and back.

6. Thanks for your thanks. We’re glad that I responses I’ve been helpful to you.

7. One last time, conclusively, you do not have HIV-1 or HIV-2

This completes this thread. Take care. I hope you will be able to stop worrying. EWH

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