Indeterminate p24

[quiteconcerned23]

Hi,
I have had protected sex only, as well as protected oral. I had a 3rd generation hiv test which came back with positive elisa, and an indeterminate western blot with a p24 banegativever,  the lab ran a 4th generation ag/ab test on the same sample which came up negative.

The doctor took another blood sample a week after the first sample. Same results. Another lot of blood was taken and the results were the same again. So that's 3 consecutive blood tests only showing p24. All of them were non reactive on the 4th generation elisa but reactive on the 3rd gen (which was the screening test in all instances!). I was also p24 antigen negative on the antigen test.

At the time of testing I had a viral bronchial infection.  Could this have interfered? When i was called in I was terrified but the doctor said that it was her opinion that I was negative, mainly because my western blot wasn't progressing and the ag/ab was negative. 

Still, I have to retest in 3 months. I am very worried because I have given handjobs with eczema on my hands. I have also had a callous that I tried to remove a couple of times and made it bleed a few times.

Do you think my tests will end up being negative?

Thanks for your advice

[RapidRod]

Hi,
I have had protected sex only, as well as protected oral. I had a 3rd generation hiv test which came back with positive elisa, and an indeterminate western blot with a p24 banegativever,  the lab ran a 4th generation ag/ab test on the same sample which came up negative.

The doctor took another blood sample a week after the first sample. Same results. Another lot of blood was taken and the results were the same again. So that's 3 consecutive blood tests only showing p24. All of them were non reactive on the 4th generation elisa but reactive on the 3rd gen (which was the screening test in all instances!). I was also p24 antigen negative on the antigen test.

At the time of testing I had a viral bronchial infection.  Could this have interfered? When i was called in I was terrified but the doctor said that it was her opinion that I was negative, mainly because my western blot wasn't progressing and the ag/ab was negative. 

Still, I have to retest in 3 months. I am very worried because I have given handjobs with eczema on my hands. I have also had a callous that I tried to remove a couple of times and made it bleed a few times.

Do you think my tests will end up being negative?

Thanks for your advice

Yes, you never had an exposure.

[quiteconcerned23]

So semen making contact with cuts and other abrasions/wounds will not transmit the virus?

[Ann]

quite,

No, giving handjobs, regardless of the state of your hands, is NOT a risk for hiv infection.

Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse where the virus never leaves the confines of the two bodies.

Once outside the body, small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect. For this reason, handjobs are NOT a risk for hiv infection as there is no anal or vaginal penetration involved.

Protected intercourse is also not a risk for hiv infection. Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection. There have been three long-term studies of couples where one is positive and one is negative. In the couples who used condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, but no barrier for oral activities, not one of the negative partners became infected with hiv. Not one.

In adults, hiv is transmitted by:

Unprotected anal intercourse.

Unprotected vaginal intercourse.

Sharing drug injecting equipment.

And that's it.


I agree with your doctor - you are hiv negative.

You might want to get checked out to see if you have an underlying, as-of-yet undiagnosed autoimmune condition, as these can sometimes cause false positive results. So can pregnancy, but it's unclear whether you're male or female. Sometimes they just happen, and yes, sometimes (rarely) they can be caused by some other active infection in your body.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED FURTHER HIV TESTING AT THIS TIME, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.

Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[quiteconcerned23]

Thanks RapidRod and Ann
I am a female,  by the way
I appreciate the help!

[Ann]

Quite,

You're welcome.

Remember, you might want to get screened for autoimmune conditions before you have any more hiv tests done in future, or if there's any chance you may be pregnant, test for that as well. We had a woman here recently who had a false positive result due to being pregnant.

Keep using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will continue to avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!!!

Ann