[Question #9032] Question about my hivtest

36 months ago

Hello,

I tried asking my question a few times but for some reason i never managed to get my question posted. I'm not very good at computers and stuff i guess.

I have a few questions. I am a woman, and i had an unprotected sexual exposure to a guy, that i don't know at all. This happened at the end of september 2019, so more than 2 years ago. I don't have any other exposures since that moment.

I got tested for hiv with a hiv antibody-only test on May 23, 2022. The result was negative. Then i started worrying about this: on May 8th 2022 i tested positive for SARS-CoV-2/ covid-19 with a covid-19 antigen selftest. I had a few mild symptoms, some symptoms lingered a bit longer. By the time i had my hiv antibody test (on May 23, 2022), i had (almost)no more symptoms. The results from the blood draw on May 23 2022 also showed high levels of leukocytes, crp, neutrophils (formule) and absolute neutrophils and absolute trombocyts. (Maybe still because of the covid-19 ? )

My question is: can i be entirely confident that i don't have hiv?

Thank you

Edward W. Hook M.D.

36 months ago

Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your question. I’ll be glad to comment. The short answer is that you can be entirely confident that you did not acquire HIV from your exposure 2 years ago.

To elaborate, currently available tests for HIV are among the most reliable tests in all of medicine. HIV antibody only tests provide conclusive results at any time more than 8 weeks after an exposure. Their reliability is not effected in any way by other infections such as COVID-19. Your high levels of neutrophils and thrombocytes in no way effects you test results. As you point out, they may be due to your COVID-19 infection.

Be confident that you did not acquire HIV from your exposure two years ago. EWH

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36 months ago

Hi doctor Hook, thank you for taking the time to answer to my questions. It is great to be able to get these answers from you, i live outside of the US, and can't seem to find this service here in europe.

I have one thing to add. I took a SARS-CoV-2/covid19 antigen selftest on the same day (on May 23,2022)before i went to my doctor for my hiv antibody test. The SARS-CoV-2/covid19 antigen self test was negative.

So please answer me these questions:

1) did i understand correctly that having a SARS-CoV-2 infection while being tested for hiv with an hiv antibody-only test does not have any effect on the reliability of the hiv antibody only test result?

2) can i completely trust my negative hiv antibody-only test result?

3) Can i move on with my life knowing that i don't have hiv?

Thank you

Edward W. Hook M.D.

36 months ago

I’m pleased that our service is helpful to you. Straight to your follow up questions :

1. Correct. COVID-19 infection would Jane NO effect on the accuracy of your HIV test. You can be confident of your results.

2. Yes

3. Yes, I encourage you to move forward with your life without further concern or testing.

Take care. EWH

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36 months ago

Hello dr Hook, thanks for the reply.

I have some last questions;

1) I noticed you mentioned that the high levels of neutrophils and thrombocytes in no way affected my hiv antibody test result, and may be due to the covid-19 infection. I mentioned in my first post that i also had high levels of leukocytes and CRP at the time of my hiv antibody test (maybe still because of the covid-19?). Am i right that, in my case, this is nothing to worry about for me and that my hiv antibody test result is still conclusively negative?

2) I understand that there are different methods in hiv testing, like Elisa, eclia, cmia,.. I don't know which method they used in the lab. I just know that i got the result back on the same day, earlier than i expected. Does the method of hiv antibody testing matter in my case?

3) Can i completely trust my one negative hiv antibody test result?

4) the most important question for me: Can i move on with my life, knowing that i don't have hiv?

Thank you again. Sorry for my questions.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

36 months ago

We provide up to three responses to each clients questions. Answers to these follow questions will complete this thread which will then be closed shortly after my responses have been posted:

1. Both of the white blood cell/neutrophil count in your blood and CRP measurements are entirely non-specific findings which provide no clues to their cause. Certainly COVID-19 could cause such elevations as can any number of inflammatory processes. Your negative HIV antibody test however provides specific and unequivocally conclusive results that you did not acquire HIV. You can stop worrying about HIV!

2. No, the method of HIV antibody testing makes no difference. The different methodologies you mentioned give similar results. Typically performance of the test takes only a few hours.

3. Falsely negative tests are extraordinarily rare. I urge you to believe your antibody test. If you choose to retest, I am confident you will get the same result, once again showing but you did not require HIV from the exposure of concern.

4. Unequivocably yes. I urge you to move on without continuing concern.

I hope the information I provided has been helpful to you. Take care. EWH

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36 months ago

Hi dr Hook,

Thanks for your reaction. I requested a copy of my hiv antibody only test result and the bloodwork from 23 may 2022. I noticed i also had a lower than normal relative monocyte count, but the absolute monocyte count was normal. Does that change your assessment?

I really don't want to do another hiv antibody test, getting my blood drawn is not easy apparently.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

36 months ago

No change in my assessment.

You do not need further HIV tests.

End of thread. EWH

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