118 days since exposure, Home Access Test Negative, now what?

[duffer]

It has been 118 days since I was engaged in a low risk activity.  The details are not overly important because the wonderful contributors to this forum have answered like scenarios and all have deemed by exposure as "low risk."

My question is that I took and recently had processed the HOME ACCESS HIV antibody screening and the test came back negative.  Good news for sure.  It has been 118 days since my low risk behavior so is there any need for me to take a test once again at the 6 month mark.

Another tidbit of info.  I am a type 1 diabetic and am in good health but are there any medications other then antiviral or chemo related products that would inhibit the growth of HIV antibodies at this point.  I know that 3 months is the standard with 6 months being definitive but I was curious your input on what my next steps should be.

Thanks in advance for this forum and answering my specific concern.

[jkinatl2]

I can not give you a risk assessment without knowing your risk.

[Ann]

Duffer,

Regardless of your risk level, 118 days is totally conclusive. You do not have hiv.

Now what?

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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

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

Ann

[duffer]

Thank you Ann for your reply.  Your advice will be heeded to the fullest.  This is a wonderful site.  The content created by the community is invaluable.

[Andy Velez]

Actually a negative result at 3 months is definitive with a few exceptions. Those exceptions for which testing at 6 months is recommended are when longterm intravenous drug use is involved, or organ transplant or treatment for an illness such as cancer. Otherwise a negative at 3 months is considered to be conclusive.

[duffer]

Thank you Andy.  All the above criteria does not apply to me so I am feel very comfortable with the 118 benchmark of negative being conclusive.  Thank you for taking the time to reply.

[Andy Velez]

You're welcome. Get on with your life. There's nothing to worry about regarding HIV.