Author Topic: HIV COMBI PT question....really worried (Read 12234 times)

sethpla · « **on:** September 28, 2011, 06:05:24 pm »

I'm a 33 year old male in good health condition. On August 21/11 i had an unprotected sexual encounter with a 18 year old girl, a sexual worker i must say. Ever since i've been paranoid about HIV. I've had several HIV COMBI PT tests done:

7 days after exposure the result was NON REACTIVE with a 0.125 index. 15 days after exposure results came NON REACTIVE again, with a 0.118 index. 24 days after exposure again NON REACTIVE with a 0.128 index. And finally, 32 days after exposure a NON REACTIVE result with a 0.152 index. I'm really scared, specially because my index has gone up from 0.118 to 0.152. ¿Does that mean something bad? I'm going crazy about this. I could really use your help and some advise. Thank you.

RapidRod · « **Reply #1 on:** September 28, 2011, 06:34:39 pm »

Your 3 month post exposure test will be conclusive.

sethpla · « **Reply #2 on:** September 28, 2011, 07:11:06 pm »

Wow

Two months is a long time to deal with this fear and anxiety. Off course i wasn't sure about it, but i thought that the window period was a lot shorter if tested with a 4th gen test, like the COMBI PT. ¿What about the results index going up from 0.118 to 0.152? ¿Could that mean that i'm "getting infected"?

Thx for your answer!

RapidRod · « **Reply #3 on:** September 28, 2011, 07:23:39 pm »

Yes 3 months is a long time and had you used a condom you wouldn't have had a wait.

sethpla · « **Reply #4 on:** September 28, 2011, 07:35:05 pm »

Yep, you're right. A little rough way to say it, but true. Thank you.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2011, 08:47:39 am »

You can do an initial test at 6 weeks. The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the very smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4-6 weeks after an exposure. If you test negative at 6 weeks the likelihood is that you will continue to test negative at 3 months.

sethpla · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2011, 09:00:09 am »

Thank you Andy! Your words really help to cope with this painful anxiety. I will do as you say and i will let you know the result. Again, thank you!

sethpla · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2011, 12:06:33 pm »

Andy, I got tested again at 5+ weeks. Result is non reactive.but this time my index went up to 0.201. That is freaking me out. ¿Why is it going up? ¿Should I worry about it? That index thing going up and up is driving me nuts. Could u please explain what it means? Ty and sorry for the annoyance......

Andy Velez · « **Reply #8 on:** October 01, 2011, 01:00:33 pm »

Don't get caught up in details. Keep it simple. You tested negative.

And with a negative at 5 weeks+, the likelihood is that you will continue to test negative.

sethpla · « **Reply #9 on:** October 01, 2011, 01:11:06 pm »

Ok andy, thank you. The index thing is not important. Period.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2011, 01:32:19 pm »

What's important is reactive or non-reactive. And non-reactive is what you want.

sethpla · « **Reply #11 on:** October 01, 2011, 01:37:54 pm »

Got it. Thank u! I will get back to you at 6+ weeks!

Andy Velez · « **Reply #12 on:** October 01, 2011, 02:03:32 pm »

OK. Good luck. I expect you to test negative.

sethpla · « **Reply #13 on:** October 02, 2011, 01:02:17 am »

andy, i just cant stop thinking about it. i dont understand why my index keeps going up. im going crazy about it. some words about this sco thing could really help. i mean, if it is kind of a random number, then why doesnt it go down? it keeps going up! im even starting to feel sick...

Ann · « **Reply #14 on:** October 03, 2011, 07:53:36 am »

Seth,

The index is irrelevant. As you have been told, what's important is whether the result is reactive (positive) or non-reactive (negative). Yours was non-reactive. I do not expect your result to change when you do your confirmatory testing.

Ann

sethpla · « **Reply #15 on:** October 03, 2011, 08:36:48 am »

Thank you Ann! I will let u know my 6+ weeks result. After a looong weekend thinking about it I'm pretty confident now everythink is ok

Andy Velez · « **Reply #16 on:** October 03, 2011, 08:43:06 am »

Good. Now in the meantime while you are waiting for that final test you need to focus on other things in your life. That will make the waiting time to go much more easily.

sethpla · « **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2011, 10:48:50 am »

Ann! Andy! I just came back from the lab. Got my 6+ weeks (45days) test result. NON REACTIVE and my index is 0.201 again.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2011, 11:15:16 am »

Great! I expect you will continue to test negative at 3 months.

sethpla · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2011, 11:20:53 am »

A breath of fresh air. 8+ weeks result NON REACTIVE. 0.185 index. I'll keep you posted!!!

Ann · « **Reply #20 on:** October 20, 2011, 07:13:38 am »

Seth,

Good lord, I hope you don't plan on testing every two weeks until you hit the three month point. What a waste of resources!

Your result is not going to change, so chill out already.

Also, I deleted the response you left in someone else's thread. If you read the Welcome Thread before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:

Quote

Only those Moderators and members who are authorized to answer questions in the Am I Infected? forum are permitted do so. Unauthorized responses may be deleted without permission of the poster. Repeatedly posting replies of this nature may result in a Time Out or permanent ban, at the discretion of the Moderator Team.

Don't let me catch you doing that again, ok?

Please consider yourself warned!

Ann

sethpla · « **Reply #21 on:** October 20, 2011, 08:18:30 am »

Ooops. Sorry, my bad. Just trying to help. Won't happen again...

sethpla · « **Reply #22 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:15:50 am »

Just got back from the lab with my 13+ weeks result. Non reactive (0.143 index). Thank you all for your support and understanding. Lesson learned.

Ann · « **Reply #23 on:** November 29, 2011, 10:41:15 am »

Seth,

That's good, conclusive news. You do not have hiv.

Protect your hiv negative status in future and make sure you are using condoms, every time, no exceptions.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED FURTHER HIV TESTING AT THIS TIME, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.

Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

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Author Topic: HIV COMBI PT question....really worried (Read 12234 times)