Testing window - worried

[stupidguy]

Hello,

I'm sorry to be a pest, but I just want to know for sure. I had unprotected vaginal encounter with a woman back in Feb. Since then I've got myself tested for all STD including HIV. The HIV test was 4 hours shy of 12 weeks, using rapid finger prick method. I'm concerned because when the nurse was drawing my blood, she seemed to have some trouble getting enough amount of blood out. She said my blood clotted to quickly, so she had to rub some extra alcohol on my finger to get the last portion out into the tube. Judging from this case, should I go for another test after 6 months?

PS. I had my gallbladder taken out due to gall stones. Does this compromise my immune system which may result in any delay in serocovertion should I really be infected?

Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated~ :-)

[jkinatl2]

Nothing you reported would have any impact on your result. You are reliably HIV negative.

Use condoms correctly and consistently in the future to prevent HIV - but you know that already

[stupidguy]

So having gallbladder out isn't the same as organ transplants? What about the the fact that I'm 4 hours shy of 12 weeks? Is that also considered conclusive? Sorry just want to be exactly certain.

[Matty the Damned]

So having gallbladder out isn't the same as organ transplants? What about the the fact that I'm 4 hours shy of 12 weeks? Is that also considered conclusive? Sorry just want to be exactly certain.

No it isn't the same. Organ transplant patients are given powerful immune supressing drugs to prevent the donor organ being rejected by their immune system. They take these drugs for the rest of their lives. These immune supressants can cause false negative results on HIV antibody tests even after the three month window period has expired.

A cholecystectomy (removal of the gall bladder) is a routine procedure performed on thousands if not tens of thousands of people around the world each day. It will not affect the validity of an antibody test.

Being "4 hours shy" of the expiration of the window period is not an issue. As JK has said, your result is reliable. You are HIV negative.

MtD

[stupidguy]

JK and Matty, I sincerely thank you for clearing out my concern. This is a great relief especially after learning about the mentioned details that I had wondered for a long time.

[Andy Velez]

And please remember for the future that protecting yourself against the sexual transmission of HIV is a very simple matter: just use a condom everytime you have vaginal or anal intercourse. Condoms provide very effective protection. Use one everytime. No exceptions.

Other sexual activities are only theoretically risky. In the real world of HIV we know that transmission is about unprotected intercourse. So use those condoms!

[stupidguy]

Thank you very much for educating me. I just have one last and final question that will really put my mmind to ease. How frequently is there ever a case that a person who tested negative at 12 weeks became positive at 6 months over the same exposure?

I'm approaching 6 months now, but I am absolutely terrified to go for another test at 6 months mark for some reason.

I thank you greatly for putting up with all these questions coming from me.

[Andy Velez]

The exceptions for testing out to 6 months are when intraveous drug use may have been involved or a severely depressed immune system due to organ transplant or treatment for a severe illness such as cancer. Those don't apply in your case so your testing at 6 months is strictly for your peace of mind.

And yes, I expect you will certainly test negative again.

[stupidguy]

So do you think that even if I am experiencing some symptoms comparable to ARS, I don't need to relate them to the possibility of HIV infection since I tested at 84th day following the last incident? Please let me know. I really need this question answered. Thanks a million!

[Ann]

Stupid,

You're not going to be going through ARS nearly six months following your unprotected incident. If ARS happens at all, it happens two to three weeks following initial infection.

You have conclusively tested negative for hiv. You don't have hiv. Get over it.

If you read the Welcome Thread before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:

Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or no-risk situation, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.

Please consider yourself warned!

Ann

[Andy Velez]

In many countries 12 weeks (84 days) is the accepted norm for a conclusive result.

So no, I don't think you need any further testing. You are HIV negative. Period.

Let it go and get on with your life.

[stupidguy]

Thanks so much Ann and Andy for your prompt and reassuring response. I apologize for the repetitive questions. I will work on getting over this incident. I have definitely learned my lesson and will only participate in a monogamous relationship with my wife and no one else ever. Perhaps my anxiety is from the guilt of cheating.

Thanks again for your knowledgeable responses. God bless you. 

[Ann]

Perhaps my anxiety is from the guilt of cheating.

Bingo! We have a winner!

You made a mistake and strayed. You need to allow yourself to be human, forgive yourself, and move on. Perhaps some counselling is in order to achieve this.

You certainly do not have hiv, just a bad case of the guilts.

Ann