POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: countrykid on August 07, 2006, 08:58:36 am
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How do i understand HIV testing?
Well My exposure happened over 4 months ago...& i've been reading info on this website but din wanna post till i got outta the window period.
Another issue was after my intercourse, i cudn't wash myself for about 2 hours as i had to run away on some work......after 2 hours i got home & washed myself......!!!
well regarding the exposure...(with an Asio-Indian prostitute)
1. Vaginal -- Protected.
2. unprotected insertive Oral
3. Unprotected fingering......
3 month Elisa test result = Negative. (test was taken post 91 days)
Lot of stress related symptoms........
Questions are :
1. Is the 3 month Elisa conclusive?????
2. Do i need to do any form of PCR testing.
3. Does the Elisa look for all strains of HIV 1 & HIV 2 or only those specific to that country?
4. Do i need to worry about the 6 month test?
5. Does the use of anti-biotics for regular flu or other infections change or affect Elisa results.
Your advice is desparately needed!
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You are conclusively negative and no to all your questions.
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As Rod has told you, you are HIV negative. Period. End of story.
You really didn't need to test in relation to this recent incident. Condoms provide very effective protection against HIV transmission. So as long as you use a latex one everytime you have intercourse you're ok as far as HIV is concerned.
I suggest that you re-read the lesson on Transmission which you can find a link to in the first thread in this section. You'll get all the basics you need to know there. By always following safer sex guidelines you can enjoy your sexuality, protect your health and skip worrying unnecessarily.
In general we do recommend that anyone who's sexually active should have a full STD panel done regularly -- at least annually and every six months is even better.
This time out you have no cause for further concern.
Cheers,
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Hey Andy & Rod, Thanx for the replies.......
so i guess u cud summ it up that.....
1.Right now after my post 91 day test i'm conclusively negative.
2. The Elisa test would have checked for all strains of HIV 1 & HIV 2.
3. I don't really need to worry about my 6 month test & PCR tests aren't required.
4. And anti-biotics don't really affect the Elisa result post 3 months.....
Feels good.......
I've had symptoms such as Body heat, throat pain, increased smegma discharge, abraisions on penis (even when i had the encounter), joint pains.....can any of these be attributed to HIV or now since i'm negative could it be something else???
Thanx buddies & keep up the good job!
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HI guys thanx for the info.....really feeling comforted now.....u see i do live in a tropical country with high pollution levels & our skin is constantly under the Bang......
I was mainly concerned pals..coz i had developed flu like symptoms just before i had had my test.....it came out NEGATIVE ofcourse.
My Main sources of concern are mainly whether the Elisa checks for all strains??
& if there's any chance that i would be under the group of Late seroconverters?????
These are the Q's that are eating my mind right now.....Though i'm confident that i'm edging very much towards being Safe....
Just also wanted to know if there is any information about the % of people who are Late seroconverters World Wide....
Look guys i really dun wanna pester u any more with my Q's...You've been a great source of inspiration with ur info....just needed one last confirmation so if u could respond would be ever grateful!
Thanx buddies!
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You are HIV negative. Period. End of story.
Just keep using a latex condom everytime you have intercourse and you'll be fine as far as HIV is concerned.
Cheers,
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Hi Guys, thanx for that conclusive answer....really feels good....now even though i have symptoms of different kinds i'm not letting it worry me too much.....Just wanted to know for future care & information purposes....
Is Late seroconversion mainly associated with people who are into IV drug abuse or already have impaired immune systems & do these account for the 5% of people who seroconvert late......or does it also include people who are affected through unprotected sexual intercourse....
Why do people talk about the 6 month test......some people told me that in parts of India & Asia many people recommend testing after 6 months to be conclusive......Well my exposure was with an Indo-Asian prostitute in a different land.....so what's the take on that....
Please do answer when free.
Thanx!
CountryKid!
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IV Drug users, people on chemo, people that take antirejection drugs for transplants and people with compromised immune systems. They would all have to have some HIGH risk exposure to seroconvert in the first place or they would test negative.
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So it's these issues..............Okay.....so what about the remaining late seroconverters....people say it happens.......but what the % of it all, now since the 3 month Elisa has come Negative................
From which part of the penis can HIV actually infect a male?????
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I don't understand your question.
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HIV is passed to a man through his urethra and in some instances through the inside of the foreskin if he is not circumcized.
The % that may take longer than 3 months to seroconvert is irrelevant for you unless you are an IV drug user or are being treated for cancer or otherwise have a severely depleted immune system. And if you had the latter you would know it so please don't come back to us with a list of your symptoms.
If you have symptoms which still concern you discuss them with your doctor.
You are HIV negative. Period. End of story.
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Well Thanx.........Andy.......yeah sorry about the symptoms thing just that they were a lil irritating....
But the info on the part of transmission was very usefull especially for future awareness...
May God Bless!
CountryKid!
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I was in a Frenzy.........really during the intercourse.....
After the intercourse the girl may have touched my penis & urethra...dunno really......& i remember her having played with herself before...
Now do u think that any Vaginal fluids could have opened me up to infections either from her Hands or parts of her hand....Man i kinda know i'm negative after the 3 month test..but just trying to make sure!!
Please do reply...
& yeah my immune system generally has been good....so i guess dun think to worry about the Late seroconversion part of it!!
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You kinda know? No, if you got a negative result on your three month test then you are Negative. Nothing more to discuss.
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Super......................thanx buddy!!!!!!!
Well yeah i'm sorry i badly phrased it...
My test result after exactly 94 days was Negative for HIV 1 & 2 & also for the remaining STD panel...
can i just relax, go out & have a drink???
thanx again Rapid!!!
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Yes and remember for anal or vaginal sex always use a condom with plenty of lube.
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Well thanx....i was mainly concerned about these things.....
After the intercourse the girl may have touched my penis & urethra...dunno really......& i remember her having played with herself before...
Now do u think that any Vaginal fluids could have opened me up to infections either from her Hands or parts of her hand....
Now as u know i do not have an idea about the Girl's status....& as u said the risk of transmission could be low....
So can i just take the 3 month test to be conclusive & go along..without having to worry about seroconversion.......really wanna get over the anxiety, & quit the amount of smoking that i have been because of the stress...
Ann your views would also be welcome.....& Rapid thanx a lot for the support!...by the way i had taken Cipro for the flu that i had sometime after 11-12 weeks....could that affect results in any way????
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There was no reason to test and if you did, the medication wouldn't not interfere with the test results. Conclusive? Any test YOU took would have been conclusive. YOU DID NOT HAVE A RISK...PERIOD!!
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Hi Andy, Rapid & Ann,
Well guys thanx again for all the support & info....feels really like having somebody to rely on during these tense days.....
Well i've decided to have a test again....not doubting anyway the info i've got just to put my mind finally to rest.....well i just gave in the sample this morning..results will be about tomorrow...
this will be chronologically a test 4.5 months after exposure......do u think this will be finally conclusive....the thing is the doc I saw for the symptoms i was having said that HIV antibodies may not show up for 6-9 months....that kinda shook me a lil bit.......
You guys now know the history of my exposure & possibilities through this thread....so please tell me when i test Negative tomorrow...which i'm hoping is the case.....can i rest my fears for Good!!!! I know docs are conservative with their outlook of clinical status also coming into the picture....but scientifically if i could get the explanation from u guys, just would help me to no end!!!!
I also wanna know whther the Elisa test checks for all the strains of HIV?
i really wanna fight of the angst of tension......
Please let me know....& all the best Andy on his trip!!!!!
CountryKid!!!!
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Kid,
What part of YOU DID NOT HAVE A RISK don't you understand? You have already tested conclusively hiv negative. Your result tomorrow will also be hiv negative. You ARE hiv negative. You have to engage in a risky behaviour before you can become infected with hiv.
The wrong information about the window period the doctor gave you is irrelevant. You are conclusively hiv negative because you did NOT have a risk.
Ann
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Hi Ann,
great to get ur mesage......yepp my result came in today NEGATIVE for both HIV 1 & 2, & now i'm relaxed.....thanx for the information.....the report did say below that a 6 month test is recommended to monitor seroconversion.......but i guess i dont have to worry about that!!!
Well i did the test from a nationally accredited Lab in my country which is also accredited by the American pathologists association!!!!
You guys are doing a great job here...Keep it up!!!!
Kid!
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CountryKid
I just wanted to add that you've reliably tested negative more times than necessary from a no risk exposure. The best advice i can give you is to sign off your computer and move on with your life.
Let the busy experts get back to answering questions from people who are still "unsure" about their status. Continue to have safe sex and enjoy life. This is meant in the nicest way possible - time for you to get the heck outta here :)
Peace
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Hi guys, thanx again for the reassurance...
well my 4.5 month test result came in negative........for both HIV 1 & HIV 2, guess i can just relax now.........given the history of my exposure...
The main reason of concern was that, I have a girlfriend now & i wanna enjoy life, she even wants to get married & have children.....that's why i've been worried about my status....so far in the 2 months we've known each other we've been very casual.....but i wanna take that next step!!! I did not want to risk her...if in anyway there was a slightest chance of me being infected!!! but it's worked out well now!!!!
I din really mean to pester the experts here, thy've been a source of great support & i will be forever be indebted to them!!!!!
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Well i just have one question, & it's only for information sakes..please do answer at ur leisure....
Question is : whether the onset of the early retroviral symptoms, means that the human body is creating an immune response to HIV, & does it mean that antibodies become detectable henceforth!!!!
would like to know this so that i can educate myself a lil more on this!
Kid!
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Kid,
When the body is invaded by ANY pathogen, the body responds. Certain chemicals are released into the bloodstream by your body and it is these chemicals that make you feel crappy. Where hiv and many other infections are concerned, the symptoms are general, non-specific, fluey type symptoms. If a person notices anything at all - many people do NOT. This is why symptoms or the lack of symptoms mean nothing.
And yes, part of this response is to create antibodies to the pathogen you have encountered. So, if your symptoms really do have anything to do with hiv, then a person would test positive on the antibody tests after feeling ill.
But hang on, you didn't have a risk! Whatever is going on with you has nothing to do with hiv. How could it?
You are conclusively negative and it's time for you to accept your result and move on.
Ann
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Well.......ur'e right.....coz after that brief sickness for 2 days....both tests have come out NEGATIVE, so whatever that was it wasn't anything to do with HIV....
Thanx for understanding the real reason for me being a bit too suspicious.......but i really wanna move on with my new relationship & that's what i'm gonna do!!!!
yeah my risk was pretty low........so i guess even if i did have any risk whatsoever.....(hypothetically) that's been taken care of by the test i took at 4 months post!!!!! & my NEGATIVE would still be conclusive???
well let me also be honest to u that, when i described my encounter & started this thread i have not in anyway hidden any facts of the encounter!!!!
Thank you Ann
Kid!!!!
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Infact let me rephrase myself.......from what i've learnt.......My risk wasn't low, i guess it wasn't there at all....but u know before i started reading material on this site, i dint have the facts straight, so u know how the mind can wander if it doesn't have the correct information!!
Kid!!!!
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Kid,
Yes, you are conclusively negative. Just make sure you protect that negative status by using condoms for intercourse, because unprotected intercourse IS a risk. You don't need to worry about fingering, getting a blowjob or having intercourse with a condom.
Ann
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Hey guys......thanx for all the support..
Just wanted to tell you & keep you updated that i got tested mainly for peace of mind at 5 months & 12 days post exposure....
The result read.....
HIV 1 & HIV 2 antibodies...........NEGATIVE!!!!!
Could i now just consider my negative status etched in stone..or do i need to really worry anymore about the 6 months..possible situation!!! i know i dun really need to but i needed ur thoughts......
I also had one question....
We know that HIV has a window period after which antibodies can be detected in the blood.
My Q is are HIV antibodies detectable only after the 13 week window period or are they detectable the moment an individual seroconverts...???
I've also read that HIV sometimes hides in the lymph tissues which may not give accurate results for the Elisa tests done even after the window period!!!
How much of this is true???
Please do let me know!
Cheers to Ann, Andy, Rapid & rest of the team!
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Kid,
Once again, you didn't have a risk in the first place.
Most people who have actually been infected will test positive by six WEEKS. The antibody tests will pick up the antibodies as soon as enough have been produced by the body and the average time for this to happen is 22 DAYS.
You are without doubt hiv negative and you do NOT need further testing. It's time for you to move on with your life.
Ann