Testing for the second time

[nervous625]

I hooked up with a guy at the beginning of September.  We had unprotected gay anal sex and he knew he was negative as of late August.  However, he is known to get around and this wouldn't include the guys he would have hooked up with about 3 months prior due to a 3 month window period.  I found out he tested negative again in early October, but that would still leave a window period for any guys he hooked up with between July and September when we hooked up. I went in to get tested for HIV around October 1 (about 23 days after we hooked up) and the results came back negative.  I'm going in for another test on Tuesday December 3rd and I just need some reassurance... Are my first test results a good indication of what to expect on Tuesday?  Since I took my first test 23 days after our hookup should HIV have shown up if I really were infected? I have a normal immune system, and I haven't shown any symptoms.  I just need some peace of mind. Any input appreciated.

[jkinatl2]

I hooked up with a guy at the beginning of September.  We had unprotected gay anal sex and he knew he was negative as of late August.  However, he is known to get around and this wouldn't include the guys he would have hooked up with about 3 months prior due to a 3 month window period.  I found out he tested negative again in early October, but that would still leave a window period for any guys he hooked up with between July and September when we hooked up. I went in to get tested for HIV around October 1 (about 23 days after we hooked up) and the results came back negative.  I'm going in for another test on Tuesday December 3rd and I just need some reassurance... Are my first test results a good indication of what to expect on Tuesday?  Since I took my first test 23 days after our hookup should HIV have shown up if I really were infected? I have a normal immune system, and I haven't shown any symptoms.  I just need some peace of mind. Any input appreciated.

Hello! I am glad you wrote in today, as December 1st is/was World AIDS Day. It didn't make as much news as it used to, but that's a sign of how far we have come in treatment and education.

However, your message was profoundly disturbing. Sero-sorting (choosing one's sexual partners and/or level of risk based on their "known" HIV status) is only effective when both parties are positive. It is worse than useless when both parties are presumed negative.

You would have less risk having unprotected anal sex with an HIV positive person on meds with an undetectable viral load than you EVER would with someone who claimed to/thought he was negative, but was instead recently infected - and with the HUGE viral load that corresponds with that.

As for your risk, it was legitimate.

Not because the other guy "got around" but because you had unprotected sex with anyone whose status was not verified.

Your test at three-odd weeks was basically worthless, as the soonest you can test and get an ALMOST definitive result is SIX WEEKS.

People who seroconvert usually do so within 25 days past exposure, but the production of antibodies might not be sufficient to trigger an ELISA test for a week, two, or three after that. This is why the VERY MOST advanced routine tests have a six week window.

Your test on December 3rd will be definitive.

But please don't try to keep your status by serosorting. It's a losing game, and your posting here shows that you are well aware of that fact.

PLEASE stay HIV negative. Wear a condom for anal/vaginal sex. Or until such time as you are in a mutually monogamous relationship and get tested together at the appropriate intervals.