So stressed and full of Anxiety

[Trinifool]

Dear HIV Expert, I had an exposure of unprotected sex with CSW on the 27th September 2012. My Doctor order me a PCR test that looks for the virus and the results came back saying "Undetected", then I did an Elisa Hiv antibody test at 84, 90, 91 and 96 days after the unprotected exposure. All the results came back negative "Thank God !". My last test was done last week at 140 days (20 weeks or 5 months) after my exposure and it was an Elisa Hiv antibody test, the results were negative again. My Doctor is now telling me that he wants me to do a last Elisa Hiv antibody blood test at the 6 month mark to definetly exclude HIV infection. I am pretty much stressed out and have extreme anxiety and just want this whole nightmare to go away.i got a second opinion from another doctor who told me that 3 months testing is conclusive and i do not to worry anymore. I am confused as to why my doctor is saying to test out to 6 months and the other is saying 3 months is conclusive. I plan to take the 6 month test to get a peace of mind and get rid of my anxiety and worry. Should i count 6 months as 180 days or 24 weeks (168 days) ? Please advice on what i should really do as I have a lovely wife and 2 beautiful little kids. Thank you in advance and please keep me in your prayers.

[Ann]

Trini,

You don't need to count six months either way. You were conclusively hiv negative at your 90 day test and all the subsequent testing has been a waste of time and money.

You do NOT have hiv. You are conclusively hiv negative.

The first doctor needs to brush up on his hiv knowledge. The window period for hiv testing has been three months for years now.

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

[Trinifool]

Thank you for your much valued response. Have you ever seen in your tenure as being an hiv specialist a person with a negative 5 month Elisa Hiv antibody test turn positive at 6 onths or later date. Also I see the the CDC also states that 3% of people require to be tested at the 6 months mark and 97% will test positive by 3 months. Can you shed some clarification on why CDC states 3% of the people will need to test at 6 months ? This has me a bit baffled and i would really appreciate your professional advice on this ? Thank you very much Ann as you have helped me to calm my Anxiety.

[Ann]

Trini,

In nearly twelve years of giving risk assessments and testing advice on this forum, I have never seen a three month negative turn positive at a later date, never mind a five month negative.

I have no idea why the CDC says some of the things they say about hiv. They get plenty wrong. They err on the side of extreme caution, paranoia and sexual conservatism. Scare tactics, in other words.

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.

The only people who might take a little longer than three months to test positive are those people on chemotherapy for cancer, on anti-rejection drugs following organ transplant, or people who have been injecting street drugs, every day, for years. Even people in these groups will normally test positive by three months.

You do NOT have hiv. You are conclusively hiv negative.

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

Ann

[RapidRod]

http://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/Resources/pmtct-care/docs/TM/Module_6TM.pdf
Page 11
#4
  In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results

[Trinifool]

Dear Rapid Rod , In other words what you are saying is that anyone testing negative after 3 months of their exposure is conclusively negative no matter what the risk ? This really means that I am indeed conclusively negative as my last Elisa test was done at 5 months ? I really appreciate the link you sent me as this has really started to erradicate my terrible anxiety (HIV Phobia). I dont think i will bother to test at 6 months despite my doctor is telling me that i have to test at 6 months to really rule out HIV infection. Thank you Rapid Rod, God Bless you and keep me in your prayer as I am practically begging God to get rid of this damn Hiv Anxiety that continues to bother me.