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HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: cadera on September 30, 2006, 12:56:49 pm

Title: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on September 30, 2006, 12:56:49 pm
Dear All,
I would like to get your opinion about my risk. I jsut had vaginal insertive sex 1 day ago without a condom. The duration of my unprotective sex was about 10 minutes which was not at one go 10 minutes. the sex was pretty normal nothing liek deep thrust. I am not sure if the girl  had hiv or not but what do you think my risk is. the female to male transmission of hiv. after sex I looked if I had any cuts on my genital area and did not see or feel anything lihe that. Do you think I should go for PEP since its still so early. one more question the girl I was with just recently divorced and has a 5 year old child, do doctors chekc for STDs during health controls. I know the girl did drugs before but not sure if she has shared needles.

I would appriciate your opinions and when is a good time to get tested 40 days 50days to get a good sense?? is PCR DNA a good test.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on September 30, 2006, 01:05:40 pm
I meant birth control not health controls
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on September 30, 2006, 02:16:53 pm
Cadera,

Yes, you have had risk but no, I don't believe PEP to be necessary. Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus and more so from a woman to a man. The odds are distinctly in your favour of testing negative.

Only an hiv antibody test can reliably reveal your hiv status. PCR testing is NOT approved for diagnostic purposes because it returns a high rate of FALSE positives. ANY PCR result must be checked with antibody testing anyway, so PCR testing is a waste of time and money and has the potential to freak you out with a false positive result.

The earliest you should test for antibodies is six weeks. The vast majority 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 negative result at six weeks MUST be confirmed at the three month point. The only conclusive negative is one had at three months post possible exposure.

Forget worrying about whether or not this woman was tested as a part of her reproductive health care - you can only go by your own results.

Please read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) and follow the links for further Transmission and Testing information. Here's what else you need to know:

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 STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection.

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

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.

You need to start using condoms and stop playing roulette with your life and health.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 01, 2006, 10:17:34 am
thank you Ann for your respond and all the links you sent me at your signature. I will do my testing in six weeks and than again in 13 weeks to make sure. I hope I get through this fine. I need to keep my self busy i guess to go through this time faster. I just spoke with the girl and mentioned that we did not use a condom and all that kind of meaning stds and she was like oh you are fine so I hope thats true. some people might not even be aware of being infected and all that. but what u said is very true i should stop playin roulette
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 01, 2006, 03:31:20 pm
i have a little cold and sore throat could the symptoms come that fast like day 3 after possible exposure
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 01, 2006, 03:39:49 pm
No, you will not get any symptoms that quick. As you see the symptoms that you mentioned is the same symptoms as the common cold/allergies.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 01, 2006, 07:12:34 pm
anymore input about my situations from other members of teh forum?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Andy Velez on October 01, 2006, 08:39:44 pm
Cad, I honestly don't see there's anymore to say about the incident and getting tested. I do appreciate that it's difficult to sit while waiting to get the answer you're anxious about.

What I recommend is that you stay productively busy and you will find the waiting period will pass much more quickly than you maybe able to imagine at this moment. When you become aware you're tensing up do the good deep and slow breathing which I recommend. It really works and helps in getting past that chest-tightening anxiety.

Ultimately I expect you will come out of this ok.  HIV is as you have been told not easy to transmit, especially from female to male. Given this was a single incident the odds are way in your favor that you're going to test negative.

Cheers,
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 02, 2006, 08:13:41 pm
thanks everyone for response i kined of get nervous on and off i have to get through this time although i asked the girl I had vaginal intercourse with if everything was ok doing it unprotective and she u are fine I still get a bit crazy with my self anxiety and all that today i have a little temp and feel like its symptoms and all that ... sorry to bother u guys with my anxiety issues i just need to hear from people i guess and hopefully get through this one being negative
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 03, 2006, 03:00:34 pm
????
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on October 03, 2006, 03:14:39 pm
cadera,

Symptoms or even the lack of symptoms means nothing when it comes to hiv infection. Stop looking at your body through the lens of hiv or you will end up making yourself feel ill. Anxiety will do that to you.

You're just going to have to remain productively busy while you wait for the appropriate time to test. Keep in mind that the odds are heavily in your favour of coming out of this ok.

If you need extra support to get through the waiting period, I highly recommend that you see a counselor or therapist face-to-face. There is only so much we can do for you here.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: HIVworker on October 05, 2006, 11:37:13 pm
I agree with Ann here....and it is way too early for symptoms anyhow. If you are looking at your body like that now, you are going to do nothing but worry yourself sick. As Ann said, symptoms or the lack of are no way to decide HIV infection.

R
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 07, 2006, 07:45:49 pm
does anybody know any free anonymous testing facilities in nyc ?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on October 07, 2006, 08:00:10 pm
cadera,

Go to the HIV testing center database (http://www.hivtest.org/index.htm), enter your zip code and specify what sort of facility you're looking for.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 08, 2006, 01:12:04 pm
hi thank you for the testing location information it was a great source. when do you guys think I should get my first test at 22 days or like in a month. I have been reading 6 weeks is a very good indication of final results.

I am getting to close to the end of my 11th day I know its very early right now according to what I read in the forums and how I have been informed in this great forum.
by the way is weakness or feeling a bit empty could be a symptom I feel like that today I am really sorry I know i should not be looking at the world through an hiv lens but i am a bit nervous.

Also I had sex with the same women the night before this time protected vaginal but unprotected oral sex. she gave me a blowjob for a long time.

does this incident reopens my window again starting from day 1?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 08, 2006, 01:44:27 pm
6 weeks will give you an idea. The conclusive test is 13 weeks after last unprotected sex.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 08, 2006, 03:53:50 pm
should i be concerned about my unprotected oral sex I had just 2 days ago. in the forum i read its just a risk in theory and nothing has really been documented in the history through a woman giving a man oral unprotected sex. can i rely on this info and still keep my window count day since the day ihad my unprotected vaginal sex (insertive). I am male, not circumsised
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 08, 2006, 07:14:17 pm
Receiving a blowjob is not a risk. You do not have to restart your count down till your conclusive test.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 08, 2006, 08:35:39 pm
i am sorry did not quite get it so i dont have to restart my count down sicne blowjob is not a risk ? i am still counting from my last unprotected vaginal insertive experience

thank u all for your support i try to keep my self busy and hang out with a lot of friends i hope this time goes by fast and i get through this one ok i learned a lot
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on October 09, 2006, 05:12:01 am
cadera,

No, you don't need to figure the blowjob into your window period.

I hope you have been screened for the other sexually transmitted infections before you allowed someone to give you a blowjob. The risk here isn't to your, it's to the other person and not for hiv, but for things like gonorrhea.

You should not test for hiv until the six week point after the unprotected intercourse. You'd be wasting time and money to do it any sooner.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 09, 2006, 01:29:09 pm
Ann,

thanks a lot for your input at least i was able to take that out of my mind. another quick question does it make a differece in terms of the quality of the test if i go to a FREE hiv testing facility or one that I will need to pay for the antibody test. What is the best thing to do. I cant wait for my 6 weeks the come up to go for testing I have a month from today which in normal thinking is not too much but soemtimes anxiety takes over my body and get a bit of temperature and think its symptoms always.

thank you for you all for your support

Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on October 09, 2006, 01:34:21 pm
cadera,

There's no quality difference between free tests and ones you pay for yourself.

If you're going for a free test, wait for six weeks rather than waste resources. You might not pay for the tests, but someone does. Wait until the appropriate time.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 10, 2006, 08:12:04 pm
what do u think about the p24 test? is the RNA test approved diagnostic test for early detection?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 10, 2006, 08:31:46 pm
i read a post of a person 53 male shouldahveknown i think is his screenname.  how would the experts in this forum describe the fact that he is negative after being exposed to hiv that many times unprotected.

I am asking this question somehow toe ase my mind i know i ahve to to go with my results. as u will read in my thread my exposure was about 10 minutes on and off with no cuts or sores on my penis. sorry to be graphical a bit.

do u think that even if the person was hiv positive i still have the chance being negative . i really dont know if the person is hiv or not, i asked meaning stds and she said i am safe and alll that but as u said people dont know.

Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 10, 2006, 09:26:07 pm
Just lucky.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 10, 2006, 09:33:10 pm
i understand. could somebody please explain what really happens how hiv virus makes its way in through healthy skin ? like the penis? that are the possibilities.

I am really scared at this point now...do u guys think a pcr might be beneficial in my case???

Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 10, 2006, 09:36:17 pm
A PCR test is NEVER beneficial. HIV doesn't make it's way through, as you put it, "Healthy Skin."
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: HIVworker on October 10, 2006, 09:42:41 pm
PCR is not needed in this case. HIV does also not pass through intact skin. The tip of the penis contains an opening that is not really skin, not like the skin on your penis. It is a mucus membrane like the inside of your mouth. This layer contains cells that help guard against invading pathogens. These cells can be infected by HIV. However, the surface area on the tip of the penis is small and the chances of infection is actually low. If the person you have sex with has a high viral load, there is more virus in their sexual fluids, so this can increase the chances of infection.

Let me say this, HIV transmission does not ALWAYS occur if this membrane is bathed in sexual fluids. In fact for a man it is unlikely. The longer and more frequent the exposure, the more likely transmission is. If you have an existing STD this can make it more likely - as is common in developing countries.

Knowing how HIV is transmitted is not likely to help you relax, trust me my experience on this forum is that the more we explain about HIV the more you worry. You do need to test, because you are sexually active and have had unprotected sex, but the chances of you testing positive is still low. Be responsible with your sexual life and use a condom from now on, but I am not overly worried by your situation - even though you might be.

R

NOTE IN EDIT. Although your penis contains a membrane that I said is "like the inside of your mouth" this doesn't make oral sex as risky as penetrative sex. Saliva contains antivirals and experience with HIV has shown that oral sex is a very low risk activity.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 10, 2006, 10:42:32 pm
Hivworker,

thank you sooo much for your feedback. u seem to be not only experienced in this forum but also like a scientist in this field about hiv. I dont have any stds that I know of i got tested for many of them before and got negtaive results except my dr had told me that there is an std called HPV that sometimes man has it but does not show any symptoms or can not be tested. could it be possible to give me a case assesment about if i might have contracetd hpv what my chances are of getting hiv. are they a lot more? how do the chances change? i really would like to know all about this tiem to really be more informed in the future about stds and my sexual life.

by the way i was talking tthe person i had unprotected sex with and asked ehr when she got tested and said in the last 6 months also mentioning that i should not worry about this. she also said she will retest in a few days for me. it seems like she is a person that has been tested before and at least aware of stds.

sorry i am posting on the forum talking to my self i apologise .

Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 12, 2006, 04:27:49 pm
Hi everyone,

I get chils and headaches here and there some days? could this be a symptom never had this happen to be before. I feel like body balance is gettting messed up lately
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 12, 2006, 05:42:18 pm
More than likely NO. Symptoms usually start sometime between 2-4 weeks if they are going to happen at all.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 12, 2006, 06:55:15 pm
well i am just going into my 2 weeks today. one more questions if symptoms happen is it like it will put u to bed for a few days or they all like really light and come and go
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 12, 2006, 07:39:44 pm
Symptoms if you have them at all, come on all at once and leave all at once. You may have what you call a mild case like the flu or a major case like being put in the hospital. Most people don't have them to where they notice to begin with.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 12, 2006, 10:17:43 pm
thanks for the response rapiddrop. I am really freaked right now ecause I am really out of it today i ate had drinks with salt all that to fix my balance sugar level all that but nothing really helped.

i am on day 14 now.

i am trying to get the girl sex with to get tested she last said she got tested in the last six months really meaning it and telling me honestly i dont think there is nothing for u to worry about but what u guys say makes more sense go with your own results.

Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 13, 2006, 03:10:11 am
Forget about getting the girl to test. Her results wouldn't help you anyway. Wait out your thirteen weeks and be tested.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 13, 2006, 07:57:46 pm
i dont know how time is gonna go by anyway today i feel a bi better but still have this slight dizziness in my head which could be that my body is trying to produce the antibodies to fight with hiv. i am on day 14 which is the window for symptoms.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 13, 2006, 08:02:53 pm
The window period is on average 22 days. Your body would not be developing antibodies this early.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 13, 2006, 08:04:23 pm
do u think testing on 22 days worth it ? like as a good sign or is it waste of time?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 13, 2006, 08:06:30 pm
Waste of time and money. Test at your 12/13 week and get a conclusive test.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 13, 2006, 08:15:29 pm
in your experiences whats the likelyhood of getting infected from a woman who has hiv through a shot uprotecetd intercourse like 10 mintues which was on an off. why is it that tramissionf rom femail to male is more difficult i dont really understand it or have enough knowledge
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 13, 2006, 08:32:51 pm
To gain more knowledge read the "Welcome" thread. It will answer your questions and you gain more knowledge than having me explain it.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 13, 2006, 09:46:44 pm
what are the ulcerative stds that play role on hiv tranmission also I am dong some extensinve research now about stds and all that is hpv a risk increasing std i have been reseaching a lot for the last 2 horus and this is one of my questions hpv as i read is an extremely commmon std in usa
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 14, 2006, 04:29:13 am
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10448335 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10448335) Read until your hearts content. NOTE: Studies are still ongoing in reference to STD influences on HIV infection and are not conclusive.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 14, 2006, 12:45:39 pm
thanks for you reply.

I will keep u all posted with my results. thank you so much for all of your support. u really have been an amazing help hopefully my results will turn neg because i ahve really learned my lesson from this for sure
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 15, 2006, 05:03:21 pm
I just found some bumbs that are red color inside my throat right after my tongue. could this be a indication of HIV infection????  they dont look normal and it feels like they have been multiplying themselves day by day
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on October 15, 2006, 05:35:08 pm
You all ready know signs and symptoms are unreliable in HIV diagnoses. You need to wait on your 13 week test result.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 19, 2006, 01:02:23 pm
Hi

So i kind of did what i was not told to do in the forum but could not helpt it. I took a PCR DNA test for hiv at my 15th day after exposure through Quest Diagnostics(any ideas about this lab) and it came back negative what do you think. how good of a sign is this ???? thanks
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 19, 2006, 05:07:26 pm
any opinions????
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on October 19, 2006, 07:45:48 pm
Cad,

You wasted your money. A fifteen day hiv test - no matter what sort - is far from conclusive. It is encouraging, but nothing more.

Ann


Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 20, 2006, 09:23:01 am
i know its a bit early even for a hiv pcr dna but still it might be a good sign any more opinions?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on October 20, 2006, 10:05:17 am
Cad,

Of course it's a "good sign", any negative result is. This isn't "opinion", it's fact. It's also fact that the PCR tests have a high rate of FALSE positive results - so I hope you're not planning on using that test again. You were lucky this time, but you might not be next time. ANY result from PCR testing MUST be confirmed with ELISA testing anyway, so you might as well sit tight for your six week ELISA test - which I'm fully expecting to be negative as well.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 27, 2006, 10:36:42 pm
I have a question about window period and what it means. in the forum i learned average seroconversion is 22 days what does that really mean does it mean that in 22 days most of the people will test positive on an antibody test (which is call seroconversion correct???) what is the altest generation for test 4th?  is that the most powerful one. is Oraquick blood sample a 4th genretaion or older? thank you all
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 27, 2006, 11:16:06 pm
any responses or ideas?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on October 27, 2006, 11:27:18 pm
cad,

Average doesn't necessarily mean most, but it does mean many. Some people will test positive earlier than and some will test positive later than 22 days. MOST - nearly all, will test positive by six weeks. The window period is three months to catch the rare person who takes slightly longer than six weeks to test positive.

Don't start getting hung up on what generation a test is. It doesn't matter one little bit at three months - in fact it only really matters in the first few weeks. All these mental gymnastics you're trying to do aren't going to change the fact that you need further testing. You are likely to continue to test negative.

Ann

PS - don't be so impatient. It's late on a friday night after all - in fact it's 4:30 am where I am. You're going to have to be patient waiting for the correct time to test as well. That's just how life is.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 27, 2006, 11:57:19 pm
ann thank you so much for your response and I highly respect how much effort you are putting in helping people like me in the forum. you are very right I need to hold tight for another 15 days I am on my day 30 today and just go from there. especially since I received a negative from a dna pcr. I mean although its not a correct diagnosis procedure its still a good sign and you are damn right i was lucky this time not to get a positive that could even have been a false one.

thanks again for everything have a wonderful weekend and happy halloween:)

Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Andy Velez on October 28, 2006, 11:38:53 am
Cadera, you need to do yourself a big favor and stop your "researching" about HIV.

Doing that stuff will only feed your anxiety without giving you the definitive reassurance that you are seeking.

Given that you had a single and brief exposure with someone whom you don't even know for sure to be HIV+, the great likelihood is that you are going to test negative. HIV is not an easy virus to transmit. It's significantly harder to accomplish from female to male. Taking all of that into consideration I expect you will test negative.

So between now and the time when you test you need to stay productively busy and by busy I don't mean on the net looking for symptoms and other stuff which will only feed your fears.

Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on October 31, 2006, 02:22:03 pm
Hi everyone,

i could not stay too still I went and go an antibody test ORA quick advance looking for hiv 1-2 through ORAL swab test. came back negative at 33 days after possible exposure. I hope this is a good sign since average people seroconvert at 22 days. I eat healthy drink sometimes so I assume my immune system is doing its job in terms of creating antibodies when neccesary

any opinions on my results

DNA PCR at 15 days Negative
Antibody Oraquick Oral swab at 33 days Negative
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on November 01, 2006, 04:08:30 pm
any opinions?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on November 01, 2006, 04:21:16 pm
After all you've read on this website and countless others you went and took a PCR test. What do you want us to say. You would really be flipping out if you would have received a false positive. I don't think our opinion's or knowledge really matters to you any way.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on November 01, 2006, 07:37:42 pm
all of u have really been amazing support. excuse my anxiety that resulsted in taking a pcr dna test. I needed to do soemthing get tested something because i was really going out of control. I will still apriciate comments on my 33 day result. I know its still ealry but hopefully its a good indicationg of final status

thanks everyone
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on November 02, 2006, 05:37:18 am
cad,

Any negative result is a good result and the odds are in your favour of continuing to test negative.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: HIVworker on November 02, 2006, 10:53:34 pm
In this case a PCR test shouldn't be needed. But I can't take into account your anxiety. If you want to take one, just be aware they can throw up the odd false positive test. How many months of your life and subsequent negative tests would it take for you to be convinced you are actually negative. People on this forum have had them come back positive and then test again negative about 20 times over the next few months (because their positive test was a false positive). I know you want a quick resolution, but just waiting for the 13 week window period to expire and taking a normal test is the best option. If you can't stand the wait then do what you must, just be aware of what I have said.

R
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on November 07, 2006, 01:28:16 pm
I got tested today Rapid Blood Sample test the 20 min one.

At 40 days (5 weeks 5 days almost 6 weeks) Negative

what do you think

DNA PCR at 15 days Negative
Antibody Oraquick Oral swab at 33 days Negative
Antibody Blood 40 Days Negative
 
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on November 08, 2006, 08:21:35 pm
Hi everyone

today I got a rash on my sking on face on teh chick this never happened to me before this kind of skin rash on my face. I  kind of see it as a symptom now

I got tested at 40 days with antibody ora quick 20 min test results were negative.

Please respond I think it might be seroconversion
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on November 08, 2006, 08:26:24 pm
Symptoms come on 2-4 weeks after exposure. What you have is unrelated to HIV.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on November 09, 2006, 08:22:05 pm
thanks for the reply. its jsut soo unusual its huge patches of red on my face. never never ever had this before....?

is 40 days test good enough  backed uup with pcr dna at 15 days

i am so confused
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on November 09, 2006, 09:04:13 pm
Test at 13 weeks and get your conclusive test.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: ronaldinho on November 10, 2006, 10:17:58 am
Could not a negative antibody test be considered conclusive even before the 13 weeks, provided it is backed by an undetectable PCR??

My reasoning is as follows: a negative antibody test means that A) either the person was not hiv infected or B) the person was recently infected and still has not developed antibodies to the virus. But with an undetectable PCR, alternative B would have to be excluded, since the viral load is very high in recent infected people, for the very reason that the recently infected person still has not developed the antibodies that will fight HIV and lower the viral load. Then we would be left only with alternative A.

Is there any flaw with this reasoning??
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on November 10, 2006, 10:32:12 am
PCR DNA testing is not a FDA approved diagnostic test. The only test approved is an APTIMA(R) HIV-1 RNA test by Gen-Probe.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on November 10, 2006, 05:49:31 pm
APTIMA(R) HIV-1 RNA test by Gen-Probe.

do you know where this test could be taken in nyc???
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on November 10, 2006, 05:53:42 pm
No I don't. This test was just recently approved by the FDA the first week of October.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on November 10, 2006, 06:08:04 pm
Cad,

The Aptima test is not to be used for routine hiv testing. It is only to be used in very specific instances, the criteria of which your case does not fit. Any result from the Aptima test must still be confirmed through standard ELISA testing.

The negative results you have thus far are highly unlikely to change.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on November 23, 2006, 08:05:17 am
hi everyone

ı just a p24 test combo

both antigen anticore of the test came Negative

this test was taken when ı was on day 56 (8 weeks)

how good of a result is this can I almost say I am in good shape

DNA PCR at 15 days Negative
Antibody Oraquick Oral swab at 33 days Negative
Antibody Blood 40 Days Negative
p24 Combo 56 days Negative
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on November 23, 2006, 08:35:03 am
cad,

As you've been repeatedly told, your negative results are unlikely to change.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on December 08, 2006, 05:51:13 pm
Hi everyone
I am on day 71 and I have a terrible flu cold temperture that get worse and worse byt time goes
I hade a mild flu for like 5 days and today it starting getting heavy

according to my test results how likely it is I am hiv +?

DNA PCR at 15 days Negative
Antibody Oraquick Oral swab at 33 days Negative
Antibody Blood 40 Days Negative
p24 Combo 56 days Negative
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on December 08, 2006, 06:45:54 pm
cad,

How many times do you need to be told? Your results are unlikely to change. 71 days is too late for ARS. You've got the flu. If it doesn't shift in a day or so, see your doctor. It's got nothing to do with hiv.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on April 26, 2007, 04:29:45 pm
hoi back again. my last test was on like my 50 something day with a p34 also which came back negative. today i have a big pain under my armpit and i can feel a node that has quite a mass to it. can this realte to hiv? i did not take a test after 90 days I am taking one tommorow which is probably going to be like day 180 or something like that. but how like is this it coudl have to do with hiv. during my last test i never had unprotected sex. only sticked my fingers in vagina which have some cuts that were not fresh.

I am just really worried and clueless. the bump under my armpit also has red marks on the skin

thanks everyone again
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: thunter34 on April 26, 2007, 04:34:50 pm
One of the most eye-opening things about the Am I Infected Forum for me has been the discovery of just how many people there are in the world that take HIV tests on an almost recreational or sport level.

How many negative results do you aspire to receive?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Coffeechick88 on April 26, 2007, 04:37:45 pm
 A simple antibody test at 3 months would have been conclusive.  I was unclear whether you have gone to 3 months or further, but you went overkill on the amount of testing you did.  A swollen lymph node is not specific for HIV.  There are a multitude of conditions that can cause that symptom.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: RapidRod on April 26, 2007, 04:39:04 pm
P34?? Is that a new test? If you meant a P24 then you wasted your money. A P24 test must be taken within the first 3 weeks of a possible exposure.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on April 26, 2007, 04:51:23 pm
hi I have not takend the 90 day test I am going to take a test tommorow which will be like 6 monhts after my possible exposur. for the p34 that was a typo it is p24 when i took teh p24 it was a combo with an antibody test on day 57 i think came back negative.

So this thing under my arm pit has some pain also I can really feel teh pain. Do lymp nodes due to hiv have pain in them
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: thunter34 on April 26, 2007, 05:03:35 pm
One of the most eye-opening things about the Am I Infected Forum for me has been the discovery of just how many people there are in the world that take HIV tests on an almost recreational or sport level.

How many negative results do you aspire to receive?


I repeat the above.  This will be what?  Five?  Six negative results for you?  More maybe?  You are willfully ignoring everything you are being told on this site, so I don't see what your point is for being here other than to entertain yourself somehow.  We're clearly wasting time and energy responding because you continually disregard what is said.  You tested negative time and again.  You've been told to move on time and again.  I certainly hope the cost for all these endless tests is coming directly from your own pocket instead of from either government funding or insurance because it is such a colossal waste.
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on September 03, 2007, 11:02:59 pm
so guys I am soo stupid and I am back again...did not learn  my lesson...
i had unprotected full course sex with a girl that I kind of hung out for liek 2 weeks and these last few days we had sex. I did ask her about testing but did not tell me if she did get tested recently or not she is 29 I am 23. she is asian. I dont know what to say to my self about this I am sure if she has hiv I have very high chances of getting it because we had very long intercourses.

when we had the conversation it was a bit wierd and short but i was like I got tested few months ago and I know i am hiv - and she was like its stupid of me to have sex with you without a condom but also said likewise when I was talking to her abour testing.

I am sensing she is pretty reponsible but dont know

so i dont know what to say about this what the odds are she is hiv +. i know it kind of sounds stupid but how do you sense my situation?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on September 04, 2007, 05:49:35 am
Cad,

You should know the drill by now. You need to test at three months for a conclusive result. Re-read your entire thread - particularly reply #2.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on September 04, 2007, 01:35:10 pm
you are right Ann. to start with I should not even put my self in this risk. not very thoughtful of me. I guess I will take a test in like a month since I have read many people to seroconvert by 21 days.

do you think its worth taking the DNA PCR?

thanks
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on September 04, 2007, 02:11:08 pm
Cad,

A DNA PCR is NOT approved for diagnostic purposes as they have a high rate of returning FALSE positive results. Don't waste your time or money on one of these tests.

Don't expect to come here every day to wring your hands over your waiting period either. You knew the risk, you took that risk, now it's time for you to deal with the consequence of having to go through the window period. It's not like we haven't been here before with you.

It's high time you took responsibility for your actions and quit playing roulette with your health.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on September 05, 2007, 10:51:12 pm
dear all

thanks for your quick replies and still i am clueless on how i took this risk. My question is I have read many posts and as far as I understand a test a 21 days is somewhat a good sign followed up by a 45 day test which seems like from what i have read is in 45 days the vast and majority people will seroconvert by that. Even 21 days seems to be an average...

so please tell me if i take a test in 21 days or so will give me an idea or put my mind to ease at all?

also I would like to get the girl I had sex with tested. because if she comes out negative the odds are i cant get hiv from. what is the best way to approach this and bring it up since its a sensitive subject. She is not like my girl friend or dont know if its going to go there. I met her at my friends party we hung out that night made out and nothing else after 2 weeks of keeping in touch and a bit of hanging out we slept.

so sorry to give you all these details. I feel bad because you guys are not like a free counseling service...

As i said in my post she mentioned she got checked before but we did not get into details there like did u get tested for hiv...all i said was i get tested and I am fine ( i got tested like 4 months ago) and she said likewise so i dont know what that exactly means. Please give me some direction in this

thanks for your time all
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Matty the Damned on September 05, 2007, 11:00:34 pm
Cadera,

A conclusive negative result can only be delivered by a three month test. You took the risks now you have to live with the consequences. You can't bargain your way out of this.

MtD
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on September 06, 2007, 04:59:50 pm
thanks for the respond i would appriciate and opinion though. I had a little chat with the girl mentioning stds again yesterday and she was like on my end I am good and she also she was like I appriciate the fact that you are kind of freaked out by having sex without  a condom...so i dont know what that means I dont think she would lie to me and if she says i am std free she probably got tested at some point at least

i mean still we are talking with lots of parameters...
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on September 06, 2007, 05:50:42 pm
Cad,

The ONLY way to know YOUR hiv status is to test at three months.

Don't expect us to hold your hand until that time comes. One incident is understandable, but to come here again with another incident where you've thrown caution to the wind, well, it wears thin. You're just going to have to suck it up and wait out the window period. There's nothing new we can add to what we told you the first time around anyway.

As I told you a YEAR ago:

You need to start using condoms and stop playing roulette with your life and health.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on September 10, 2007, 06:09:15 pm
i hear you all...I guess now its jsut sit wait suck it up and get a result in like 6 weeks first

today i got some heat waves in my body is that a sign?? or the beggining of my body trying to fight over the virus slowly?
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on September 10, 2007, 06:18:18 pm
Cad,

I suggest you read what we told you last year about symptoms. There's nothing new to say to you, so just keep re-reading your thread until it sinks in.

Ann
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: cadera on September 13, 2007, 10:26:34 am
hi ann

to just to double check i amhaving the sore throat and kind of keeps building up but not to a point that it got very uncomfortable...ifa flu or sore throat is a symptom would it be light weight sore throat or flu or something heavy?

thanks for your time again. i just want to double check with you i read things but its a bit cloudy in my head
Title: Re: Few questions about my risk
Post by: Ann on September 13, 2007, 12:17:01 pm
cad,

If your sore throat worries you, go to your doctor and discuss it there. We cannot diagnose you here.

And one more time, re-read your entire thread again and again until it sinks in. There's nothing new to tell you that we didn't tell you the first time around concerning symptoms or window periods or whatever.

Ann