I did have an encounter with a Transgender back in July. We did perform unprotected oral sex on each other.
I got horribly sick the day after, but recovered after a week.
I tested with Abbott Architect 4th gen HIV tests after 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 13 weeks. All came back negative.

But I have persistent symptoms.
- Shooting pain in fingers
- Rash that comes and go
- Dry mouth
- Bad skin
- Dry skin

Been stressing ALOT the latest 3 months.
So my question is this?

- Does the Abbott Architect 4th gen HIV test detect ALL hiv subtypes and strains?

Thank you.

One of the most common themes on this forum applies to your situation. The now-standard antigen-antibody (AgAb, 4th generation, "combo") blood tests, like Abbott Architect®, are among the most accurate diagnostic tests ever developed, for any medical condition. They never fail to detect HIV infection present more than 6 weeks. Therefore, the results always overrule symptoms and exposure history. No matter how high the risk of HIV at the time of exposure, and no matter how typical symptoms may seem to be for a new HIV infection, the test result rules. (The only known exception is that if anti-HIV drugs are taken as pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, PEP) that doesn't work, the time to conclusive results may be delayed.) In addition, your symptoms are not at all typical of a new HIV infection. Some of them can occur as a result of HIV and may be listed among the symptoms, but all have many far more common causes, and the combination of symptoms you mention does not suggest HIV.

Those comments almost answer your direct question. The answer to that is yes:  The Architect test detects all HIV subtypes and strains. Your first test was conclusive; the 8 and 13 week tests really weren't necessary, but the negative results confirm you do not have HIV. If your symptoms continue or you otherwise remain concerned, see a doctor. But you can be completely certain you do not have HIV.

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

HHH, MD

There have been a couple of reports of people with acute HCV infection having delayed development of HIV antibody. But that's the beauty of the AgAb tests:  delayed antibody results does not affect test results, because the tests depend on detecting p24 antigen as well as HIV antibody. Further, hepatitis C has been oversold (on the internet) as sexually transmitted. It is NOT sexually transmitted, except in one circumstance:  potentially traumatic anal sex between men. The risk of HCV transmission between men and women, if one partner is infected, has been calculated at once for every 190,000 unprotected vaginal sex events. That's equivalent to having condoles vaginal sex with infected partners once daily for 520 years before transmission might be likely. In other words, zero.

I'm not living in the US. I live in Denmark. And the transgender I was with was a foreigner and was from Cuba.

Last question:

Are you sure that Abbott Architect would detect every subtype/strain at the time i took the tests?

And can I proceed to have sex?

Thank you

Therefore, of course a forum like this cannot give the sort of guarantee you seem to desire. But if somehow I were in your situation, I would be 100% confident I did not have HIV and would continue unprotected sex with my wife, without worry I could infect her. Sorry, but that's the best we can do.

That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope you have found it helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.