Multiple Test Question

[deav123]

I was in a 3 month relationship that involved multiple unprotected sexual exposures to the person.  I believe the person was HIV negative as they had gotten a test done a few months before we got together for an organ transplant opportunity but have still been kind of worried as you never know.  At 28 days from my last sexual exposure to the person I had a DNA PCR test through Labcorp that came back negative.  At 55 days from last exposure I then got an ELISA test through Labcorp again that came back negative.  About a week after I got the PCR results back I got a fever blister in my throat that went away after a few days.  I had no other symptoms of anything: no fever, rash, muscle aches, etc.  I've had fever blisters before but not in my throat so I'm a little paranoid about this being an ARS symptom.  

With my negative results and taking into account I had multiple sexual exposures to the person, my questions are:

1.) Would it be necessary to get re-tested at 90 days or can I be confident in my tests already done?  I realize that since I tested I got the antibody test at almost 60 days since last exposure, testing at 90 days would just be covering that last 30 days of the relationship.

2.) Do I doubt the test results due to the fever blister or am I really stretching the paranoia here?  Do people with ARS sometimes just get one symptom?

[Dr Mervyn Tyrer, MB BCh; Dip HIV Medicine, Freedomhealth London]

Hello, you asked the following questions
1.) Would it be necessary to get re-tested at 90 days or can I be confident in my tests already done?  I realize that since I tested I got the antibody test at almost 60 days since last exposure, testing at 90 days would just be covering that last 30 days of the relationship.

Your tests already done are certain....you do not need any more tests in relation to this

2.) Do I doubt the test results due to the fever blister or am I really stretching the paranoia here?  Do people with ARS sometimes just get one symptom?

You're not HIV postive, the tests are certain and the blister or whatever is entirely not related.....best wishes, Merv

[Dr Sean Cummings]

Good Morning

Your tests are fine and certain irrespective of the level of risk of possible status of your partner.

We do take features like that into account but in your case the tests are appropriate and accurate.



These:-

At 28 days from my last sexual exposure to the person I had a DNA PCR test through Labcorp that came back negative.  At 55 days from last exposure I then got an ELISA test through Labcorp again that came back negative

are all fine.

You do not need to test again

best regards, Sean

[deav123]

Thank for your response Dr. Tyrer.  Just another quick question: do you take into account other details when you give an answer on testing?  I know she was negative a few months before we started dating but she could have been in the window period at that time.  Are you saying in any event that my two tests coming back negative at the time they did are conclusive?  Thank you in advance.