6 months.... terrified

[JJones]

Right. Sorry in advance. Im here because there is so much doubt and terror floating around in my head right now. Because of that I am sure my message is going to seem pretty impersonal, but I really don't know where else to turn....

I am normally a healthy person. No major health conditions to speak of, really.

Day 0 - "Medium" Risk incident - Not willing to elaborate more over the internet, but rest assured, this is not one of those "I brushed my teeth with an infected persons toothbrush, am I infected?" type of posts.
Day 2 - Started PEP (36 hours after exposure)
Day 30 - Finished PEP
3 months - Tested CMIA: Non Reactive
Little less than 6 months - Tested CMIA: Non Reactive and Tested DNA PCR (HIV-1): Negative

Normally it would have been fine, but for the duration of the last 6 months I have had strange WBC results on all of my CBC's (Low lymphocytes, high Neutrophils). I decide to get it checked again a week after the last tests and it came back completely normal. This gave me a lot of doubt about tests, so for the hell of it I decided to get another HIV test in addition to doing another CBC at a different hospital. There was no other risk of infection after day 0.

This test came back positive.  They re-did the test, the second batch of ECLIA, CMIA, Immunochomatographic tests were also positive. Four positive tests in one day. The dr. said that the results came back showing "low levels." I'm scheduled to do a DNA PCR (HIV-1) again.


So question time;
1) WTF?!?!?!
2) Is it possible that the tests I did before were only checking for HIV-1, and I have HIV-2? (I know hiv-2 is rare, but in this sort of circumstance I've got to wonder...)
3) What are the chances that I have actually seroconverted after 6 months?!
4) Any advice going forward? Tests I should be doing?

Thanks.... you have no idea how much your replies will help me right now....

[Ptrk3]

I don't know what a "medium" risk is, since you either had a risk or you did not, so it's difficult to get a perspective on things if the potential risk activity is not explained.

PEP is highly effective, so it really is unlikely that you have seroconverted six months after the incident over which you are concerned (presuming, as you write, that you had no other "risk" activities since).  Your three and six months test should be considered "conclusive."

Check with your healthcare provider to determine if any of your tests for HIV were "antigen" tests that test for HIV 1 and HIV 2.  You can read more about testing for both HIV strains by accessing this link:

https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hiv-antibody/tab/test/

I don't understand what your doctor meant by "low levels."  Low levels of what?  Does he mean the tests are barely reactive, in which case the test(s) could be inconclusive or false "positives?"

Other than that, I can't really speculate on what is going on, since I don't have knowledge of all the facts.  All I can suggest is that you continue to do what you are doing, working with your healthcare provider to determine exactly what is going on.

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Look your WBC results can vary for many reasons and have nothing to do with the diagnosis or testing for HIV.

As for RNA testing its not recommended for routine testing due to false results and i am with Patrick your statement "low levels" makes no sense so we can not help your with that.

EDIT:

""Day 30 - Finished PEP
3 months - Tested CMIA: Non Reactive
Little less than 6 months - Tested CMIA: Non Reactive and Tested DNA PCR (HIV-1): Negative""

Look you tested early, now you have a reactive result - can happen. Test 3 full months post finishing PEP with an antibodies test, if it is indeed reactive at that stage than do the correct HIV follow-up testing with a current (up to date) specialist.

Jim

[JJones]

I don't know what a "medium" risk is, since you either had a risk or you did not, so it's difficult to get a perspective on things if the potential risk activity is not explained.

Fair enough- any risk is a risk.  I was in a risk situation. Should different situations impact the decision making process I have to go through now?

Check with your healthcare provider to determine if any of your tests for HIV were "antigen" tests that test for HIV 1 and HIV 2.  You can read more about testing for both HIV strains by accessing this link:

Apparently the CMIA test includes p24 antigen and antibodies for HIV-1, and HIV-2.

I don't understand what your doctor meant by "low levels."  Low levels of what?  Does he mean the tests are barely reactive, in which case the test(s) could be inconclusive or false "positives?"

The four tests done the other day, (and one more done today) have come back positive but with low levels of antibodies to HIV. The doctor I spoke with today mentioned that they were very low, however it still registered as barely reactive. (I imagine there is a cutoff for antibody levels, seeing as antibodies are not strictly specific to HIV?)

Anyway, my doctor suggested doing a viral load test. He said that this test should prove conclusively HIV+ or not. Thoughts about this?

Thanks for the replies! I am living in an area where concrete information and reliable counsel are very hard to come by, so your input does help a great deal.

[Wade]

Your negative result was conclusive at 13 weeks post PEP, you do not have HIV and it is safe to move on.

Wade

[JJones]

Your negative result was conclusive at 13 weeks post PEP, you do not have HIV and it is safe to move on.

Wade

Hmm... are you sure you would be able to "move on" if you were in my shoes? Five different tests now, (all antibody tests) showing reactive results, even if it is nearly 6 months later, is bound to give anyone anxiety and I am frankly shocked that the best that anyone can offer is to tell me to "move on."

I'd suggest to anyone considering subscribing to post in this forum to strongly consider otherwise and save their money.

[Ptrk3]

Moderators on these forums, who are a volunteer peer support group, answer questions to the best of their ability, analyzing the facts as they are presented.
They can do no more than that.

I'm sorry that you suffer from anxiety because of the facts related to your circumstances, but people over the internet can't promise you whatever it is you may wish to read in response to your query. 

The best advice and most responsible advice that can be offered you is to continue to work with your healthcare providers to resolve your situation conclusively.

I wish you the best as you move forward.

[Jim Allen]

Cut the drama and trolling here,  move on with your life.
If you can't move on speak to a therapist who can help you move on.

If I have to warn again it will be a ban.

Jim

[Wade]

You have just earned a permanent ban for trying to open a duplicate account.