conclusive or not?

[anxiousboy5]

Hello again everyone, i really need your advice on this.

i took test at 12 weeks after possible exposure with vidas test (dont know whether rapid or duo) and it came out non reactive. my possible exposure is one time unprotected  anal sex with a man with unknown hiv status. After that, i took several test for checking STD. I took test at local lab (same place i took test for hiv) for syphilis, gonorhea, chlamydia, herpes, hep b, hep c and all of it came back negative.

Happy with the result, i consulted with the doctor to tell her my result. She said that i'm clean but suggested that i took hiv retest at 6 months. That's the beginning of my concern. I told her that i've look up in forums and stated that test taken at 3 months is conclusive. She agreed with me, but she said that i should retest at 6 months since the test is done by machine (vidas test), so she afraid that there'll be false negative result. She also stated that maybe the test can't detect antibody so therefore i should retest at 6 months.

Here i am, confused and devastated again. I'm speechless. I just getting ready to move on but now have to go back to square one because of her statement..

Here's list of my test that i took exactly after possible exposure :
- 5,5 weeks : cmia test - non reactive
- 8,5 weeks : vidas test - non reactive
- 10 weeks : cmia test - non reactive
- 12 weeks : vidas test - non reactive

during my 5 weeks window period, i had sexual encounter with a man but it's fully protected both anal and oral. already ask the man if the condom broke but it wasn't. so this is totally not affecting my window period right?

my biggest concern is, do i need to retest again? is there any differences if the test taken exactly at 12 weeks post exposure or after 12 weeks? i'm totally screwed up by the doc statement that maybe the machine gave false neg result or my antibody hasn't react yet until 6 months.

and also, how is the calculation for 3 months exactly? is it 12 weeks or 13 weeks? my possible exposure date is 15th june and i counted 12 weeks after that is 7th Sept (correct me if i'm wrong)

i'm so tired both mentally and physically bcause of this things. i just want this to end.. .. i'm planning to retest at 15 weeks though..

Please, give me your advice, and i'm sorry if my writing being over concern. Please understand my situation. Thank you very much.

[Ann]

anxious,

I'm sorry your doctor is so misinformed where hiv testing is concerned. The window period has been three months for several years now.

The vast majority of people who have actually been infected will seroconvert and test positive by six WEEKS, with the average time to seroconversion being only 22 days.

A six week negative must be confirmed at the three month point but is highly unlikely to change.

Twelve weeks or thirteen weeks does not matter. They are both conclusive results.

You are conclusively hiv negative and you do not need further testing at this time.

Ann

[anxiousboy5]

thank you ann for your words, it's just i can't shake off this feelings of "what if..what if" inside my head. .. i've consulted with many forums also regarding this things, they stated that my 12 weeks is conclusive and i should move on, but it's not easy thing to do honestly.. one time i'm happy and suddenly i'm starting to thinking "what if..what if" inside my head. i know a lot of people in this forum might experience the same thing like me, please understand my situation.

i have several question if you dont mind..
- i read that if one enganged in high risk activity such unprotected anal or vaginal then must retest at 6 months? is it true?

- this 12 weeks window period, is it apply worldwide? i'm livin in indonesia though..

- if i retest at 15 weeks, can it give me full assurance that i'm really negative?

thank you for answering it. i'm sorry for being over concern.

[RapidRod]

Reread the repy that Ann has given you.

[jkinatl2]

thank you ann for your words, it's just i can't shake off this feelings of "what if..what if" inside my head. .. i've consulted with many forums also regarding this things, they stated that my 12 weeks is conclusive and i should move on, but it's not easy thing to do honestly.. one time i'm happy and suddenly i'm starting to thinking "what if..what if" inside my head. i know a lot of people in this forum might experience the same thing like me, please understand my situation.

i have several question if you dont mind..
- i read that if one enganged in high risk activity such unprotected anal or vaginal then must retest at 6 months? is it true?

- this 12 weeks window period, is it apply worldwide? i'm livin in indonesia though..

- if i retest at 15 weeks, can it give me full assurance that i'm really negative?

thank you for answering it. i'm sorry for being over concern.

To answer your queries:

a) No matter what the exposure, the testing window is the same.

B) The 12 weeks window is still in effect to take into account global testing.

C) We can tell you that you are conclusively negative NOW. We may do so again in three weeks if you want, but please understand that we simply cannot counsel you past your fears.

[Ann]

anxious,

I agree with Jonathan and only want to add that the tests you named in your first posts are modern tests in use in many parts of the world. Just because you live in Indonesia doesn't mean you don't have up-to-date hiv testing. You do, in part due to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Hiv is a global phenomenon and is treated as such and that includes test kits and window periods. 

You do not have hiv.

If you can't bring yourself to believe us, then go test again for your peace of mind. You will receive another negative result.

Ann

[anxiousboy5]

thank you everyone with your advice. i'm totally confidence with the result and will move on from now on. .

just what to ask, can my 12 weeks non reactive result being used as the overall result for my sexual activity for the last 3 years? my last sexual encounter was with a man but it's protected both anal & oral. it happened during my 5 weeks window period (the first one i had unprotected anal sex)

thank you everyone for your advice and comment. i really appreciate it. thank you very much ann,jkinatl, and rapidrod. thank you.

regards. 

[jkinatl2]

Your twelve week result is conclusive, assuming of course that you have not had unprotected penetrative sex with others in that time period.

It is conclusive for your entire history.