[Question #9376] Testing Clarification

33 months ago

Hi,

I am a 26-year-old male. I live in Europe. I had sex with 12 sex workers. Three months (90 days) later, I went to a clinic and had the following tests:

HIV 1&2 Abs/P24 Ag screen Not Detected

Syphilis IgG/IgM by EIA Negative

I was told that my results were conclusive. However, I don't understand my results. I would like to ask some questions about lifestyle as well. My questions are:

1. Can you provide some information about HIV prevalence among sex workers in Europe? Is it really very low?

2. The HIV test I had was called HIV 1&2 Abs/P24 Ag screen. What is "Abs"? What is "P24 Ag"? Was it a nucleic acid test? Was it a 4th generation test? Was it an antigen/antibody test recommended by the US CDC?

3. The syphilis test I had was called Syphilis IgG/IgM by EIA. What is "IgG/IgM"? Was it the same as RPR? Was it the same as the syphilis total antibody test?

4. Can I be 100% certain that I don't have HIV?

5. Can I be 100% certain that I don't have syphilis?

6. If I meet with sex workers in the future for french kiss and handjobs, do I need regular HIV and STD tests?

7. If I meet with sex workers in the future for body-to-body massage, do I need regular HIV and STD tests?

8. If I meet with sex workers in the future and use their sex toys, do I need regular HIV and STD tests?

9. If I meet with sex workers in the future and engage in BDSM sessions (no sex), do I need regular HIV and STD tests?

10. Is fetish safe? For example, are women's panties safe?

English is not my first language. If my background information and my questions are not clear, please let me know. Thank you.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

33 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment. The advice you were given is correct- your results are conclusive. Your tests prove that you do not have HIV. There is no need for additional testing as current tests for HIV are among the most sensitive tests in all of medicine. Regarding your test results:

1. Can you provide some information about HIV prevalence among sex workers in Europe? Is it really very low?

Most commercial sex workers (CSWs) do not have HIV. The prevalence of HIV varies somewhat depending on the nature of the sex worker. Lower class workers met on the street are somewhat more likely to be infected than those who are working brothels or are licensed in areas where sex work is legal.

2. The HIV test I had was called HIV 1&2 Abs/P24 Ag screen. What is "Abs"? What is "P24 Ag"? Was it a nucleic acid test? Was it a 4th generation test? Was it an antigen/antibody test recommended by the US CDC?

AB means antibodies and Ag means virus. A nucleic acid test is a test for viral RNA, each of these is a different way of testing for the virus. The combination HIV 1&2 Abs/Ag test is the test routinely used in the U.S.

3. The syphilis test I had was called Syphilis IgG/IgM by EIA. What is "IgG/IgM"? Was it the same as RPR? Was it the same as the syphilis total antibody test?

This is a test for antibodies to Treponema pallidum, the bacteria that causes syphilis. Your results are reliable and prove that you do not have syphilis.

4. Can I be 100% certain that I don't have HIV?

Yes

5. Can I be 100% certain that I don't have syphilis?

Yes

6. If I meet with sex workers in the future for french kiss and handjobs, do I need regular HIV and STD tests?

No, HIV is not transmitted through French kisses or masturbation

7. If I meet with sex workers in the future for body-to-body massage, do I need regular HIV and STD tests?

8. If I meet with sex workers in the future and use their sex toys, do I need regular HIV and STD tests?

9. If I meet with sex workers in the future and engage in BDSM sessions (no sex), do I need regular HIV and STD tests?

No, STIs including HIV are transmitted only through penetrative sexual contact

10. Is fetish safe? For example, are women's panties safe?

Yes

I hope this information is helpful. EWH

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33 months ago

Thanks for your reply.

I was wrong about the clinic’s advice. The clinic didn’t tell me that my tests were conclusive. The doctor only told me that my tests were negative. The doctor was not an HIV expert like you. I don’t know what brand of test was done. I only know that the test was called HIV 1&2 Abs/P24 Ag screen.

I believe you. You are an HIV expert. So I will take your advice. Based on my HIV 1&2 Abs/P24 Ag screen test only, can you confirm that I don’t have HIV?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

33 months ago

Yes, you can be confident of your results. All currently used HIV Ab/Ag tests that are licensed perform similarly and provide conclusive results any time more than 6 weeks following an exposure.

Have confidence in your results. EWH

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33 months ago

Thanks!

I almost convinced myself that I can move forward without worrying about HIV. But today I saw posts about biotin and HIV testing on this forum. I am now extremely anxious. I took 10mg of biotin daily when I had my tests. I didn’t know biotin could affect HIV testing.

Is taking biotin a real problem?

Can I still be sure that I don’t have HIV?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

33 months ago

The amount of biotin needed to theoretically influence the reliability of HIV test results is much, much greater than 10 mg daily. You can have complete confidence in your test results.

This reply will complete this thread which will be closed shortly. Please don't worry. EWH

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