dont know what to do - please help-

[Anonymous 222]

So 19 days after potential exposure ( condom burst for 1 second after i pulled out , chances she was on period but after pulled out didt see blood )  i went to a lab and done a vein drawn antibody rapid test. To my shock it was positive. I asked for another and it was weaker but still visible.

They sent the results for confirmation for a dou architect lab . couple of days ago i was called and they said both samples were negative and asked to repeat the test in 2 weeks.

I am horrified. Which test is more accurate. My logic says that the duo test should detect hiv earlier due the p24

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Is it possible that the rapid tests are correct and the duo is wrong?

I have many symptoms which started at day 6 and come and go such as abdominal pain, sore throat and weakness, then the sore throat and the weakness dissapear  and come back

Please help

[Jim Allen]

condom burst for 1 second after i pulled out

So the condom was intact during intercourse but broke after you had fully pulled out? Can you confirm and clarify?

i went to a lab and done a vein drawn antibody rapid test. To my shock it was positive. I asked for another and it was weaker but still visible.

Was it a rapid test, like a finger prick blood test and results 15-30 mins later?

They sent the results for confirmation for a dou architect lab . couple of days ago i was called and they said both samples were negative

So a real lab test, Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo – immunoassay.

I have many symptoms which started at day 6 and come and go such as abdominal pain, sore throat and weakness, then the sore throat and the weakness dissapear  and come back

Nothing to do with HIV from this incident.

[Anonymous 222]

The condom burst inside. I felt it and pulled out.

The rapid tests were blood drown from a vein ( not fingerpick)

The duo test was a real lab test Hiv ab/ag combo immunoassay

[Jim Allen]

Ill give you a free post as I still have questions.

I asked for another and it was weaker but still visible.

The rapid tests were blood drown from a vein ( not fingerpick)

Did you get the results within 30 mins +-

[Anonymous 222]

yes

[Jim Allen]

yes

Thanks for clarifying.

Insertive partner engaging in vaginal sex and the condom broke, you pulled out, all in all, you had a relatively minor HIV risk although it was still enough of a risk to warrant testing. The symptoms have nothing to do with HIV from this incident, see your healthcare provider and get whatever is making you unwell treated and if needed see a different healthcare provider. 

Regarding the tests, the first two were not lab tests but just two rapid test kits, no blood draw was needed for them, they might have done it but I don't see why, these rapid kits only need a few drops. Anyhow, these rapid kits were reactive, not positive and you repeated testing a few days later but this time with a proper lab test, an Ag/Ab Combo – immunoassay (so antibody + Antigen) and that was non-reactive.

False reactive results happen and often enough on screening kits or rapid tests, due to cross antibodies reactions to other past or current infections, solution/buffer interactions etc, a reactive result simply means further testing is needed to exclude an HIV infection and nothing more—no drama required.

The last test you took, the lab immunoassay was non-reactive, this is the better test and so far you have tested non-reactive (negative), however, you are testing within the window period. So to confirm your HIV status test six weeks post-exposure with a blood-draw (lab) HIV antibody test (That is not a rapid test!) and only if that's reactive will there be a need for confirmation testing (diagnostic testing). In some places they are still using a WB (western blot) test otherwise it will be an HIV 1+2 NAT test.

In the meantime, focus on living your life as normal.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV and get vaccinated against HPV, Hepatitis A & B.

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

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[Anonymous 222]

Thank you Jim!

Just to clarify, the samples sent to the lab were the same samples of the 2 rapid tests. This is the protocol here where i am . This is why they took blood from vein , to send it to the lab . So all was done on the 19th day.

The regulations here , are that a 21-day combo is considered conclusive.

Did you ever hear or saw that a Combo lab test was  false negative ( window period) but antibody rappid test positive ( same Timing)?

What is the chance of rapid test detecting antibody and combo not detecting antigen ( which as  far as i know should be formed before antibodies)?

Another question , can period sex be more risky given my situation of condom burst? again didnt see blood after pooled out

Thank you



Thank you

Thank you

[Jim Allen]

A lot of this is asked and answered already.

The initial two tests were rapid tests and they didn't require a blood draw to be used, they were reactive only, a common enough issue.

A true 21 days post-exposure HIV1-2 Ag/Ab Combo – immunoassay is getting to the 80% mark. So all I can recommend is to confirm your negative HIV status test six weeks post-exposure with a blood-draw (lab) HIV antibody test, this is either an HIV1-2 Ag/Ab Combo – immunoassay an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay giving your testing history or another HIV1-2 Ag/Ab Combo – immunoassay.

Did you ever hear or saw that a Combo lab test was  false negative ( window period) but antibody rappid test positive ( same Timing)?

Yes, but all within the window period and it did not mean the rapid test was indeed reacting to HIV. More common would be a nonreactive rapid test despite reactive lab work and confirmed HIV status within the rapid test, testing window.

What is the chance of rapid test detecting antibody and combo not detecting antigen ( which as  far as i know should be formed before antibodies)?

There are a few answers and combinations possible to this question, false rapid test results, testing within the window period, the person has had HIV for more than a few weeks and the antigen levels dropped off before the combo test was taken, etc.

All of the answers to this are irrelevant though, antigen levels drop off quickly, antibody production will not and antigen testing isn't standalone in adult HIV screening situations for good reason.

The shortest and most relevant answer to your situation is that the Ag/Ab Combo – immunoassay result matters, not the rapid test, there is one "but" to this and that's when testing in the window period to make sure to retest as already explained.

Another question , can period sex be more risky given my situation of condom burst? again didnt see blood after pooled out

Asked and answered already. It was a relatively minor HIV risk as the insertive partner pulling out as soon as the condom broke.

End of the day, you had a risk that warrants testing, and a false rapid test result. No drama is needed, simply test at six weeks post potential exposure with an Ag/Ab Combo – immunoassay.