ARS Question

[Scaredandcannotconcentrate]

I have a question about ARS and I hope you can help me.

20 days after having sex with a partner of unknown status, I took a combo test which came back non reactive. This was despite having symptoms like mouth sores, ice pick headaches, a slightly swollen lymph node on the left side of my neck (which I attributed to the mouth sores), and stabbing muscle aches.

On Day 27, I took another combo test since I was told that the recommended window period for a combo test is 4 weeks. It also came back non-reactive. Again, this was despite having mild ice pick headaches (they're more of a dull pain that comes and goes after a few seconds), some muscle aches, and some sensitivity on my left armpit (I tried to feel it but I didn't feel any swollen lymph nodes). However, the following day, Day 28, I woke up feeling slightly under the weather, like I was coming down with something. I felt somewhat feverish. The muscle aches are still there as well as the headaches.

So now I'm worried that these symptoms are ARS symptoms. Is it possible that I tested non-reactive on Day 27 because my symptoms haven't started yet, or were just about to start since I started to have the "under the weather" feeling the day after I took the test?

Should I get tested again?

[AnxiousNoMore]

oral, anal or vaginal and did you use condom?

[Scaredandcannotconcentrate]

Receptive vaginal. We started with a condom but finished without it.

[AnxiousNoMore]

You are supposed to wait for 28 days, so it is up to you whether you want to test again or you can wait 3 months and use any test for a conclusive result. No one here pays attention to symptoms and you shouldn't either.

[Scaredandcannotconcentrate]

So just to clarify, the combo test that I took at 27 days wasn't good enough? And that I should have waited for 28 days? Will the results change in a span of a day?

[guyFromIndia]

i think 27-28 doesnt make a difference and you are good to goo!!1

[Scaredandcannotconcentrate]

But why does @AnxiousNoMore's response say that I should have waited 28 days? I was quite relieved when I got my 27-day result but now, I'm worried again.

[guyFromIndia]

let me explain something you ll not find on this forum about combo/duo test...
combo tests check for p24 antigen and antibodies . p24 become detecable from day 10 aprox and is detecable in 95 % by day 16 in the initial phasee.  now when ars starts our body starts making antibodies which then attach to p24 and make it undetecable once again.
ars starts usually after day 14 and it takes 3-4 days to make p24 undetecable .
in most cases as soon as p24 goes below threshold antibodies are detecable. so combo tests in most cases never go negative in presence of virus after day 10-11 . but in some they do go negative for a few days . so if you tested negative at day 20 it means that either you didnt have any infection or you had and p24 didnt show up because your body had started making antibodies which attached to p24. now after 7 days if you had any infection your antibodies would be detecable since your body had already started making them around 10 days ago .. hence being negative again at day 27 means you dont have it !!! so RELAX

[Chriswild]

Hey there ! I think we went through the same situation ( My risk was even higher and yet I tested as negative!)so listen carefully to this: do not let  illusion and phobia take over your life. Though WHO guidelines state that a test is only conclusive after 12 weeks of a potential exposure, many HIV specialists , however, consider a DUO/ COMBO teat conclusive at 4-6 weeks. Tests nowadays are sensitive and accurate; the combo looks not only for the antibodies (produced around 21-28 days after potential exposure), but also for p24 antigen which is produced early by the body ( around 10 days after exposure). So, your negative at 27 days is a very good indicator of your status and that you weren’t exposed to HIV . Just for a peace of mind, take one another test at the 6-week mark. I’m sure it’ll be negative tho.

As for the symptoms, they mean absolutely nothing when it comes to HIV diagnosis. So, relax and forget HIV. I m

[Scaredandcannotconcentrate]

Thank you for your response. Based on @guyFromIndia and @Chriswild's responses, my 27-day result is a good indication of my negative status, and that my symptoms do not mean much when it comes to HIV.

@AnxiousNoMore, what are your thoughts? I've been reading some of the posts on this forum and I see that you are one of the regulat commenters so I'd also like to hear your opinion. Do you consider my 27 day result NOT good enough? Should I have waited for 28 days? Today is the 28th day so should I get tested again today?

[Scaredandcannotconcentrate]

I'd also love to hear the opinions of community leaders like @diver58 and @CurfewX. I see that they've been offering really good advice to people on this forum for a long time now. What can you say about my situation, my test results and my symptoms? Are my results at 27 days useless? Should I get tested again? If yes, can I at least get some comfort in my 27-day test result? Should I just ignore the symptoms and rely on my results? Please, I would really love to know your thoughts.

[CurfewX]

Guidelines state 28 days is conclusive; however, the odds of your result changing are astronomical.

[Scaredandcannotconcentrate]

Thank you Ma'am @CurfewX. So I take it that even if 28 days is conclusive, my test at 27 days is a strong indication of my status and is very unlikely to change? How about my symptoms? Do they look like ARS symptoms? Might I add that it's almost the end of Day 28 now and the feverish feeling is gone. Can ARS symptoms last for just a day? Lastly, with my Day 27 test, can I rely on my test results and consider that my symptoms are not ARS related?

[AnxiousNoMore]

Guidelines say 28. you used 27. No one here makes guidelines or can argue with the guidelines, so reread my first advice to make your own decision instead of asking us if the guidelines aren't meant for you so you expect us to figure if you should have waited that last day. Plus reread all the other advice here, but it all boils down to the same thing.

[Scaredandcannotconcentrate]

Hi, AnxiousNoMore. I'm not sure why you think I'm asking you to figure out why I should have waited for one more day before I took my combo test. Also, nowhere in any of my posts did I ask or imply that the guidelines aren't meant for me. It would be ridiculous of me to think that I am an exception to the guidelines. I am asking these questions because I have limited knowledge regarding this topic and I wanted the opinion and advice of people who have more experience which is what I thought this forum was for.

Anyway, I understand your advice regarding symptoms. They don't mean much so I shouldn't worry about them too much. My next question is (and I hope you consider this a valid question because I've read so many conflicting information about this), can I take another test anytime now (it's already Day 29), or should I wait a few days (7-10?) before I take the test again? I am asking this because I read some of Dr. Sean (Freedom Health), Dr. EWH and Dr. HHH's (Med Help) advice in other threads that tests usually turn positive 7-10 days after the onset of symptoms. If my "symptoms" on Day 28 were ARS symptoms, will a test today still show accurate results or should I wait after 7-10 days? Again, I am asking this because there are so many conflicting information out there about window periods and I want to be sure I'm taking the combo test at an appropriate time.

[WorriedGirl2018]

Guy from India, there is no window where antigen and antibody crossover will give a negative result during the window period. Dr HHH explains here on medhelp. Is that what you are saying?

As the antigen drops because the  antibody is developing. There’s no gap.

[WorriedGirl2018]

Here’s the thread https://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/Peace-of-mind-/show/1794527