ARS like illness a few months after possible exposure...

[modpod]

I became suddenly ill with chills and was still cold with a few blankets. I thought it was just a normal flu but when the fever broke I woke up 2 nights completely soaked, and a non-raised pink rash which originated on my chest and spread to my abdomen.

I am a male, and don't do any drugs. The encounter was insertive penile-vaginal. It was a brief encounter and she gave me oral after that. I really shouldn't have done it but it was hard to resist a woman who had removed her clothes in front of me. I received oral from her a few times but vaginal only once. I should always keep a condom in case any unexpected encounters come up again.

So given the exposure, her reputation, and symptoms months later, does testing sound warranted. Does HIV sound like a concern? I've read ARS occurs very shortly after exposure, not months.

[Andy Velez]

Neither the presence nor the absence of symptoms will ever tell you anything accurately about your HIV status. Certainly there's nothing about yours which are HIV specific. The ONLY way to know your status accurately when you have had an unsafe incident is to get tested at 13 weeks after the incident.

It ought to encourage you that HIV is not an easy virus to transmit. It's also significantly harder to accomplish from female to male. Given this was a single incident I would say the odds are way in your favor that you will test negative. But low risk is not the same as no risk so in the future keep the latex condoms handy and use one each and every time you have intercourse. No exceptions.

Good luck with your test result. If your symptoms persist that is something to discuss with your doctor.

Cheers,

[modpod]

I got my test back. reactive ELISA & nonreactive Western Blot. I heard the ELISA can turn positive before the Western Blot, but since it's been over 3 months am I done testing?

[Matty the Damned]

Mod,

Yes your result is a conclusive negative.

Occasionally ELISA tests return false positive results, which is why the highly sensitive and specific Western Blot test is used to confirm the result. A positive ELISA + a negative WB == HIV negative.

You don't have HIV.

MtD

[modpod]

Should I get an HIV-2 test? I checked and the test was only for HIV-1. I'm a white american and I've never slept with anyone of African decent, but she she might have.

[RapidRod]

No, you don't need to concern yourself with an HIV 2 test.