POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: concernedmay2013 on June 18, 2013, 12:03:13 pm

Title: Unprotected sex/Condom broke
Post by: concernedmay2013 on June 18, 2013, 12:03:13 pm
First of all thanks to the administrators/moderators for the solace you provide to a lot of distressed souls

I am a 39 years old Indian male. I had sex with a CSW on May 19th. No rough sex, just plain vaginal intercourse, unfortunately the condom broke and I didn't realize till I took my penis out after ejaculating inside her

The condom was in a pretty bad shape so you can as well consider this as unprotected sex. Also I am not circumcised

The CSW said she gets tested every 6 mo's and thinks she is not infected, she is due for testing so I am assuming she was tested 6 mo's ago

This one instance was my only experience of unprotected sex

As soon as I realized anxiety set in. I had two HIV Ag/Ab combo tests done so far. The lab technician said these are 4th generation tests although the test report does not say "4th generation" anywhere

22nd day after exposure: HIV Ag/Ab combo test, S/Co count 0.12 (Non reactive)
29th day after exposure: HIV Ag/Ab combo test, S/Co count 0.20 (Non reactive)

The report does not say "4th generation". Report does say "Technology: Fully Automated Bi directionally Interfaced Architect, Abbott" and on various sites this seems to be the 4th generation test from Abbott

My questions
1) Do the 2 tests I had after the 3rd and 4th week mean anything?

2) What test should I have at 6 weeks? Should I repeat the HIV Ag/Ab combo test? Some sites say the window period for HIV Ag/Ab combo test is 3-6 weeks and it is not useful after 6 weeks, that is why the confusion

3) Is it absolutely necessary to take the 6 week test on the 43rd day or after? In other words is it ok to test on 40th day (2 days short of the full 6 weeks)

4) Should I repeat the test I have at 6 weeks, after 3 mo's and 6 mo's or is there some other test that is normally done at 3 mo's and 6 mo's?

5) Does the increase in S/CO count show a trend or can it be ignored?

Thanks
Title: Re: Unprotected sex/Condom broke
Post by: Ann on June 18, 2013, 12:51:33 pm
Concerned,

1. The tests you had at earlier meant you were hiv negative six weeks before the test was done.

2. You're getting too technical. You can use whatever hiv antibody test is available at six weeks and again when you confirm at three months.

Any hiv antibody test on the market today (around the world) will normally pick up antibodies by six weeks - but this must be confirmed at the three month point.

3. It won't matter. Either way you'd likely to test positive by then if you have become infected and you're likely to test negative (and not have it change) if you haven't.

4. A six week negative is highly unlikely to change, but must be confirmed at the three month point. Six month testing is NOT necessary.

5. Ignore it.

Ann
Title: Re: Unprotected sex/Condom broke
Post by: concernedmay2013 on June 26, 2013, 10:11:46 am
Thanks for your precise responses Ann.

One question, I am getting an appointment at the lab for tomorrow which would be exactly 5.5 weeks from the moment of exposure (3.5 days short of the 6 week mark). You had mentioned in your earlier response that couple of days before the 6 week mark is ok, is it o.k. to test at the 5.5 week mark?
Title: Re: Unprotected sex/Condom broke
Post by: Jeff G on June 26, 2013, 10:29:01 am
Thanks for your precise responses Ann.

One question, I am getting an appointment at the lab for tomorrow which would be exactly 5.5 weeks from the moment of exposure (3.5 days short of the 6 week mark). You had mentioned in your earlier response that couple of days before the 6 week mark is ok, is it o.k. to test at the 5.5 week mark?


Why are you trying to test early ? Testing at 5.5 weeks is not going to make or break the results considering you are going to have to test at 3 months to confirm the results anyway .

Ask your self this , if you test early will you be back asking again at 3 months if its OK to test early and wondering if you got an accurate result .

The guide lines or testing window period Ann provided are what we go by , will a few days make a difference , probably not .
Title: Re: Unprotected sex/Condom broke
Post by: concernedmay2013 on June 30, 2013, 04:16:31 am
Thanks Jeff.

I got another HIV Ag/Ab combo test done on 41st day after exposure . The result has come out negative. Will be testing again at 3 mo's to rule out any infection

Couple of questions

- is the result on 41st day reassuring in regards to the exposure I had 42 days ago? (I had done the same combo test on 22nd and 29th day (3 weeks and 4 weeks) and those test results were -ve too

- Is it safe (in terms of passing HIV infection if at all there is any) for me to resume physical relationship (protected vaginal intercourse only) with my wife, have abstained since exposure?
Title: Re: Unprotected sex/Condom broke
Post by: Andy Velez on June 30, 2013, 07:43:29 am
A negative test at 41 or 42 days are equal to each other. Your condom break was not a high level risk to begin with. Until the condom broke you were protected and it was a one time risk. HIV is significantly harder to transmit from female to male than the other way around.

Taking all of that into consideration I expect you to continue to test negative. While waiting to do your 3 month test you need to make a real effort to focus on other matters in your life. You will find that will make getting through the waiting time much easier.

Ultimately I expect you to come out of this ok. Beyond that there is nothing more we can say to you at this point.