HIV Test came back Indeterminate. Questions...

[koka98]

On Tuesday of last week, the condom broke during intercourse.  I went and got tested (not aware of the waiting period - i know, i know....) and I came back indeterminate for HIV.  (Positive for Herp-1 which I knew already).  I was present with the following 2:  gp40 A & p24 A.  Is this normal due to me not waiting the correct amount of time?  I plan to go back in 6 weeks and re-test.  Just worried because I fully expected the test to come back clean.  I was not aware of the waiting period so I may be worried for nothing, but the lady over the phone seemed pretty adamant that I get tested in 6 weeks and I sensed from her that since 2 came back as present, I am at pretty good risk.  A little help please.

Not sure if it matters, but I am also in the process of getting the HPV vaccine.  At the time of my tests last week, I had taken the 1st step (of 3) of the vaccine.

[Ann]

Koka,

It would be highly unusual to get a true indeterminate result so soon after possible infection. Indeterminate results usually only turn up at around week two or three, not in a matter of days following infection.. There is a chance that it is a false indeterminate - results like that can be caused by pregnancy or an underlying autoimmune disease.

The vaccine will not make a difference to a negative result, but if you had the vaccine very close to the time of your test, it may well be the cause of such an early indeterminate result and if that is the case, I would expect the indeterminate to be a false result. (In other words, the vaccine would not speed up your seroconversion, but it may cause some of the bands to be falsely reactive.)

You do need to test again at six weeks. The vast majority of people 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.

If by chance you do get a positive result at six weeks, make sure they back up that result with a positive Western Blot result. A negative Western Blot will rule out a positive antibody result if it is being caused by pregnancy or autoimmune issues. With you getting an indeterminate result in the first week following the condom break, you want to be absolutely sure of the diagnosis.

I'm not sure if you're a woman or a man, but if you were the insertive partner when the condom broke, you should relax. I've yet to see the insertive partner end up positive following a condom break.

Ann

[koka98]

Thank you very much Ann.  I am male (sorry I did not specify that in the original post.)  .  The vaccine was taken almost one month to the day of when I was tested, as stage 2 of the vaccine was given to me the day after I got tested.  I did not ejaculate after the condom broke. 

[Ann]

Koka,

When you say "I did not ejaculate after the condom broke", does that mean you were the insertive partner? If you were, you are highly unlikely to end up positive over this situation. As I said before, in the ten years I've I've been posting in this forum, I've yet to see the insertive partner end up positive following a condom break and I don't expect you to be the first.

The reactive bands on your initial test are very likely to be falsely reactive. It happens.

You do need to test to be sure of your hiv status, but I am expecting a negative result.

Ann

[koka98]

I was the insertive partner.  Thanks for your re-assurance on this issue!

[koka98]

As of a few days ago...I started itching on my legs.  I assumed they were bug bites, as that is what they feel like.  I didn't bother to look at them (again...assuming it was a bug bite).  The largest is probably one inch in diameter and red with a light red center which is a bump.  Itches like crazy.  I have a couple others that are redish/brownish/purplish and much much smaller.  Some itch, some do not.  Even after your reassurance on the posts above....I am still very paranoid especially with these spots.  I THINK they are bug bites, as I was on a farm working over the weekend and they have arose since.  But I just need more re-assurance.  Please help. 

[Ann]

koka,

If it looks like a bug bite and feels like a bug bite and you were working in an environment where bugs hang out (a farm), then it's probably a bug bite. It does not sound even remotely like the rash that sometimes accompanies seroconversion, if that's what you're getting at.

If you're worried about the bites, see a doctor.

Ann