[Question #8983] HIV scare (low risk), RNA test 16 days negative

37 months ago

Hi,

I'm suffering from a huge amount of HIV anxiety for almost 4 weeks after I went to a massage parlor.

My story: I'm massaged by a gay men (Netherlands), in the end he gave me a handjob (I weared a mask, so I'm not sure what he did exactly but I'm 100% I'm not penetrated and for 99% that he did not use my penis to penetrate himself (that's sometimes my paranoid thought). After that he gave me shortly a blowjob for about 2 minutes while I was watching. It was the first time I did this with a men, as I'm in a longship relation with a women.

Because I was so worried since the moment I went there, I called the masseur and asked him about HIV. He told me he is has monogamous relation (but still he gave me hj+bj). The weeks after I had typical anxity sympthoms like burning mouth and burning shoulds+arms.

After 16 days I took a HIV PCR RNA test which came back negative and also took a urine test for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia which also came back negative.

I talked to my GP and also at the clinic where they took my tests and they all say that I had no risk at all, but I think I need ask the question here. Especially as of yesterday (27 days after exposure) I do have a burning shoulder, GP on the phone thinks it might be bursitis. But because I'm super anxious for weeks I'm have a difficult time now

So my question is: do I need to worry for HIV? Or maybe another STD that is causing bursitis? To be sure I've a 4th generation combo test tomorrow at 28 days.

Thanks

37 months ago

To add after I just visited my GP: not bursitis but a bacterial infection from a wound on my finger. Analysis based after taking blood.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

37 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your confidence in our services.

You can relax. Your GP and the testing clinic were correct. From your description of the massage event, there was no risk at all for HIV transmission. I would judge that even if the masseur has HIV, If those events had occurred for a million men, not one would have been infected. In addition to low risk of the event itself, the negative PCR at 16 days is nearly 100% conclusive all by itself. You also can rely on your negative gonorrhea and chlamydia test results (and you were not at risk for these STIs either).

As for your symptoms, they do not suggest HIV or any STI. Negative HIV test results always overrule any and all symptoms, and no STI is a plausible cause of the symptoms you describe.

So the answers to your specific questions are: no, you should not be worried about HIV; also no concerns about any STD; something else is responsible for your possible bursitis. You really didn't need testing at all after this event -- but having started down that path for reassurance, you should follow through with an AgAb (*4th generation") HIV blood test at 28 days. That negative result plus the negative PCR at 16 days will be 100% conclusive that you do not have HIV.

Your continued fear despite the reasoned, science based opinions of your providers may reflect sexual anxiety, i.e. a sexual decision you regret, with those feelings transferred to infection fears. Try to separate those concerns: they aren't the same. If you continue to remain concerned or anxious after your negative AgAb test, professional counseling might be something to consider. In the meantime, do your best to stop worrying. There is no possibility you have HIV or any other STI from the events described.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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37 months ago

Thank you for fast reply! Due to the skin infection I seems to have fever, but according to the GP that would be normal.

Another question about the HIV PCR RNA test: as I was wearing a mask during the handjob I'm not completely sure if he might did something else, e.g penetrating himself with my penis (I know, it sounds ridiculous and I had to feel that I guess). Would the test at 16 days still nearly 100%? Also would that have impact on the reliability of the 4th generation combo test at 28 days (tomorrow).

Thanks!

37 months ago

Thank you for fast reply! Due to the skin infection I seems to have fever, but according to the GP that would be normal.

Thanks!

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

37 months ago

Yes, that concern indeed sounds ridiculous. Try to be realistic; I'm not going to help you with rampant speculation on something that could not possibly have happened.

In theory, the PCR test is 100% reliable by 2 weeks. In real life, probably a bit less so -- but here too, get realistic and stop searching for reasons that somehow you might have caught HIV. And no: NOTHING affects reliability of the AgAb HIV tests: no medical conditions, no medications, nothing.

Try to think at least a little bit rationally. Let's try this: Chance your masseur has HIV despite saying he does not (people rarely lie in this situation): let's say 1% chance. Chance of transmission from the events described let's say one in a million. Chance your PCR test missed your infection at 16 days, let's guess 5%. The odds you have HIV calculate at 0.01 x 0.000001 x 0.05 = 0.0000000005 (if I have counted the zeros correctly). That's 1 chance in 2 billion. You have a higher chance of dying from a meteor strike in the next day or two.

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37 months ago

Just received my test results from yesterday: all negative!!! HIV, Syfillus negative and Herpes I apparently had on old/from past infection that is in my body (I have no blisters).

So you can probably imagine that my worries are slowly drifting away.

Thank you Mr. HHH you really helped me a lot!

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

37 months ago

Glad to hear of the negative results, but of course not surprised. Assuming your HSV blood test is positive for HSV1, you're just like half of all adults in the US, in whom positive HSV1 antibody usually reflects oral herpes (often with no recognized outbreaks) and usually low risk of infecting others. If positive for HSV2, then you have genital herpes that can be transmitted to partners, regardless of recognized outbreaks or other symptoms -- just so you're aware.

That competes the two follow-up exchanges included with each questions and so ends this thread. I'm glad to have been of help.

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