POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: lovable_folk on February 09, 2007, 08:12:31 am
-
Dear All
I am a worrisome soul from India,hope i will get a reply at the earliest.
It begins from 2005, when i joined a organisation and was working with a team manager, who was sick and would remain on and off from work, on questioning his health he told that i is a diabetic ( offcourse he was a chronic diabetic ).
He was a smoker, and me and one of my team mate were sharing cigarettes with him, so from April 2005 to March 2006, we shared thousands of cigarettes, work together and played.
On March 2006, he fell severely ill and we took him to a hospital, he was diagnosed as having full blown Aids.
Well we were shocked and i immediately got tested, as i was not willing to wait for 3 months ( Window Period ) my doctor advised me a Proviral DNA PCR, he also told me that i have no risk, and thus the test is not required. i still tested and the DNA PCR gave a negative result.
I just wanna ask you guys if sharing a cigarette is a risk factor ( As this involves saliva )
As i was sharing cigs for more than 12 months, does it makes considerable risk situation
I remember, once he got a wound in his legs and i used a cotton to clean that ( was This Risky )
I am tested negative by DNA PCR but still uncomfortable ( I Tested on March 2006 ), my doctor also told me not to get worried but i am really thinking about it a lot.
Please let me know if you all have any suggestions
Thanks a Ton !!
-
Um...only if you were sharing the cigarette AFTER having unprotected anal sex.
-
Folk, there was absolutely no risk whatsoever for transmission of HIV through sharing cigarettes. None. Zero.
What your question does reveal is a lack of knowledge about the basics concerning HIV transmission. Please read the lessons on this site about transmission and testing. You will find a link to them in the Welcome thread which opens this section. You'll get all the information there that you need to know in order to protect yourself from HIV.
This epidemic is going to be around for a longtime to come. By becoming better informed you will spare yourself unnecessary worry such as you have been experiencing and you'll know how to protect yourself.
This time out you have absolutely no cause for concern and certainly there is absolutely no need for testing over this incident.
-
Dear Freinds
Thanks for the answer...
Just couple of questions still left...hope to get your answers...
The Doctor told us that, the manager is full blown with TB. i know TB is communicable. is there any possibility that we might have been infected by the same??
I remember, i have touched his wound and cleaned it with cotton, any possibility on this?? The DNA PCR gave me a negative result, just want to get clear on this.
Thanks, Bye
-
Dear All
Thanks for the answers!! i am clear on the cigs now..but still my question remains like...
The Doctor told us that, the manager is full blown with TB. i know TB is communicable. is there any possibility that we might have been infected by the same??
I remember, i have touched his wound and cleaned it with cotton, any possibility on this?? The DNA PCR gave me a negative result, just want to get clear on this...
please explain me on this??
Thanks, Bye
-
lovable_folk , you were never at risk for HIV but you were for TB.
-
This is not a TB website. We can without a doubt say you were not at risk for HIV.
As far as TB is concerned you should follow up with your doctor or supervisor as to the appropriate precautions and/or checkup for yourself regarding TB.
-
Dear All
Thanks for the time you have provided, i knew going through my questions would be annoying at times..but its realy a great help from u r side....its awesome that i came to this web board...its a great work and i wish you all a great success.
Just one more from curiosity" How reliable is the PCR DNA Proviral Test"??
Thanks A Ton,
-
There's always that "just one more question"......
The PCR was never designed to be a diagnostic test. It's highly sensitive and because of that can sometimes yield a FALSE positive, although not a false negative. When using it it's recommended to be done at 28 days or more. In cases where there has been a REAL risk, (and yours is not one those), it should always be confirmed with an ELISA at 13 weeks.
-
Thnks a bunch Andy !!!
So by this definition, if a DNA PCR gives a negative result, can we assume this for final or requires further confirmatory testing ??
Best
-
For you over the incident you described it is final because you did NOT have a risk. NO RISK FROM SHARING SMOKEY TREATS!
You do NOT need confirmatory testing? Capiche?
-
LF,
I deleted the post you made in a thread in the forum for newly diagnosed people. If you read the posting guidelines in the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) like you're supposed to, you'd know that you should not post in the other forums (other than OT). We need you to keep ALL your additional hiv transmission and testing thoughts or questions here in THIS forum, in THIS thread, only. Please don't let me find you posting in a forum meant for positive people again. Thank you for your cooperation.
And by the way, you weren't at risk for hiv through sharing a cigarette, not by any stretch of the imagination and you certainly don't need to test because of it.
Ann
-
Dear All
I have gone through the lessons here, The DNA PCR testing is recommended as a Testing tool for HIV infection for those "worried souls" who cannot wait through the window period. its also been mentioned that they are highly sensitive and dont give a False Negative ( Though False Positives are Common )
But here in the forums whenever people ask about the reliability of these tests, The answer is they are not approved, and so must not be taken for a reliable test.
May i know why ID specialist's recommend these tests when they are so bad??
Best, Thanks
-
Dear Lovable folk,
There it goes my own experience, I hope it is useful...
I got infected in March 2006. I had a risky intercourse clearly identified. 3 weeks after, by mid April, I felt very bad, developed a severe acute infection syndrome: rash, fever, pains, headache, lymph nodes like potatoes and so on...
Immediatelly, I suspected I got infected. I went directly to a lab to be PCR tested. I got results 2 weeks later, had 268.000 copies. Ten days later I had my first appointment with my doctor. She repeated PCR and made all the tests. CD4, hematology, CMV, toxoplasm, and so on. Other 2 weeks after that, I started taking meds.
Now I keep on meds and I am ok. VL under 20 copies, CD4 oscilating around 1000's and had recovered weight and good shape.
For me the PCR was useful to acceed to an early treatment within 3 months after being infected, which is supposed to benefit my inmune system and my health and to prolongue my life expectancies.
Othewise, waiting 2 or 3 months to get an antibody test, could have mean that I could lose the oportunity of being treated soon, just finishing acute syndrome manifestations.
So, if you suspect you are infected, and if you know this could be a very recent episode, a PCR test could be helpful in order you get medical care very soon and could have the opportunity of starting meds if it is a good alternative in your case according your doctor's evaluation.
Best regards from Madrid, Spain
-
alberche, a PCR DNA is not a diagnostic test. It is a monitoring testing for VL of people that are know to HIV positive. They are NOT for newly infected.
-
Dear Rapidrod
You mean, if a DNA PCR gives a negative is it conclusive or requires further testing??
I am also aware that in many countries, doctors are using DNA PCR for diagnostic purpose also.
Best
-
As I said before, a PCR DNA in not the correct test. If you doctor wants to recommend a PCR test it should have been a PCR RNA test and that test is not a stand alone test and will need to be followed up on by an ELISA test. What was your reason for thinking that you needed testing?
-
Keep all your questions and thoughts in your orginal thread.
-
Dear Rapid
I think both the DNA & the RNA are same kinda tests. RNA looks for virus particles freely flowing in the plasma & DNA looks for blood cells that are infected by HIV.
so why there is a distinction between PCR RNA & PCR DNA.
-
Like I said, the PCR DNA test is NOT an approved diagnostic test. PERIOD.. A PCR RNA is the ONLY approved diagnostic of which I said it is not a stand alone test and needs to be followed up with an ELISA test.
-
lf,
It would seem you still haven't bothered to read the posting guidelines. I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.
If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.
Please also read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.
The reason why the DNA test isn't approved for diagnostic purposes is because it has a high rate of false positive results. Getting one of those is potentially emotionally damaging for someone.
You do NOT need to be tested because you worked and shared cigarettes with a positive person. If you also had unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with this person, then you need to test. If you didn't, then you do NOT need to test.
It's time you put this no-risk scenario to rest.
Ann
-
Dear All
Is it possible for a healthy person to Catch Genital Herpes on using the same toilet, used by a person with full blown aids.
What if the same towel has been shared??
Best
-
Go to an STD forum and ask your questions. You are not paying attention here.
-
Dear Rapid
Sorry if i am out of context, but i feel my question is well related with this Forum, if this is awkward then apologies,but certainly appreciate if an advice is made.
Best,
-
folk,
You CANNOT become infected with herpes from a toilet, no matter what. STIs are NOT spread from toilets. They are spread through sexual contact. That's why they're called SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED infections.
It would be unlikely to catch herpes from a towel.
You might benefit from some face-to-face counseling for your fears. We cannot do that for you here.
And as Rodney says, this is an hiv forum, not a general STI forum.
Ann
-
You can get genital herpes from toilet seats.
Myth. The genital herpes virus is a fragile virus that dries out when it is exposed to air. There have been no proven cases of genital herpes transmission from a toilet seat.
http://www.famvir.com/info/genital-herpes-facts.jsp (http://www.famvir.com/info/genital-herpes-facts.jsp)
-
Dear All
Is it possible for a healthy person to Catch Genital Herpes on using the same toilet, used by a person with full blown aids.
What if the same towel has been shared??
Best
Not everyone in the Advanced Stages of AIDS HAS Herpes. And listen to the others.
-
Dear Folks
I have written earlier in this forum on HIV risk by sharing cigs with a infected colleague. you all were gentle to answer my question, though they were silly enough for you to answer.
I just cannot take this off my mind, though my PCR DNA came negative. kindly bear with me and let me know if touching a open wound of a HIV positive colleague comes under risk. i was sharing cigs with the same guy and i know bu your answers that its no risk activity.
Now, kindly clear me of these two questions
1. Few times i helped my colleague on disposing off the cotton stubs he was using to take insulin - as he was a diabetic too
2. Once i touched a open wound on his body - which was somewhat bleeding...
Please answer me these questions..you all wonderfull people. i have taken a DNA PCR which was negative, and this happened a year back.
-
LF,
For someone who claims to have read all the lessons, you don't seem to take on board anything you read. It also seems that you haven't bothered to read the Welcome thread, despite being repeatedly asked to. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to merge your threads AGAIN.
Nothing you bring to us today is a risk for hiv infection.
You are hiv negative. Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse and stay that way.
Ann