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Am I at risk for HIV and do I need further testing?
I do believe in asking the right question to the right person, and over here you are the right people to ask.
Ok … here goes my story, 74 days ago I had safe sex (Condom) with a CSW in Dubai -United Arab Emirates- I did not ejaculate and the condom did not break, I tried it under the tap and it didn’t have any wholes in it as well.
During the sexual intercourse we kissed and I do have bad gums and lips, they are always dry and might crack and bleed Easily, I did finger her for a vey short while too and I don't think that I had any cuts on my fingers.
5 days ago –on the 69th day, 1 day short of 10 weeks- I had an HIV I & II Abs blood test, the result was non reactive. My questions are as follows.
1- Am I at risk –from the intercourse, the kissing and or the fingering if I had any cuts- for HIV and do I need further testing?
2- Is the blood test that I took a reliable one?
3- What does the HIV I &II Abs means? Is it a preliminary antibodies test? Taking in to consideration that I took the test in the United Arab Emirates which is considered to be one of the 3rd world countries?
4- How long does it take for this particular test to come back as a positive if –God forbid- I'm infected? Is it one of the old tests that take up to 6 months to show a positive result?
5- I was taking a medication –antibiotic- called cirrus for my sinuses problem plus an allergy medicine called Zyrtic, nasal spray called Otrivine and another nasal spry called Nasonix, does that interfere in any way the results of the test?
Thank you in advance for your help Doctors, I really do appreciate the great work you are doing on this site, but pleas, I need to get a piece of mind, the fear is killing me.
Ok … here goes my story, 74 days ago I had safe sex (Condom) with a CSW in Dubai -United Arab Emirates- I did not ejaculate and the condom did not break, I tried it under the tap and it didn’t have any wholes in it as well.
During the sexual intercourse we kissed and I do have bad gums and lips, they are always dry and might crack and bleed Easily, I did finger her for a vey short while too and I don't think that I had any cuts on my fingers.
5 days ago –on the 69th day, 1 day short of 10 weeks- I had an HIV I & II Abs blood test, the result was non reactive. My questions are as follows.
1- Am I at risk –from the intercourse, the kissing and or the fingering if I had any cuts- for HIV and do I need further testing?
2- Is the blood test that I took a reliable one?
3- What does the HIV I &II Abs means? Is it a preliminary antibodies test? Taking in to consideration that I took the test in the United Arab Emirates which is considered to be one of the 3rd world countries?
4- How long does it take for this particular test to come back as a positive if –God forbid- I'm infected? Is it one of the old tests that take up to 6 months to show a positive result?
5- I was taking a medication –antibiotic- called cirrus for my sinuses problem plus an allergy medicine called Zyrtic, nasal spray called Otrivine and another nasal spry called Nasonix, does that interfere in any way the results of the test?
Thank you in advance for your help Doctors, I really do appreciate the great work you are doing on this site, but pleas, I need to get a piece of mind, the fear is killing me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. The exact same questions have been asked many times, so my replies will be brief. Use the search link to see other discussions. In addition, you were given accurate information about similar exposures in multiple discussions on the HIV community forum a few months ago.
Since you used a condom and the exposure was in a country where HIV is rare, even among sex workers, there was no HIV risk and you did not need testing at all. HIV is not transmitted by fingering or kissing, regardless of the health of the lips and gums. The negative blood tests you had prove you were not infected.
1) No risk, no testing was needed except for emotional support from the negative result.
2-4) All HIV blood tests are reliable and all of them turn positive within 6-8 weeks (usually 4 weeks) of exposure. Your negative result at 10 weeks proves you were not infected with either HIV type 1 or 2.
5) No medicine in existance alters the reliability of HIV test results, with the possible exception of potent chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs.
Bottom line: You didn't catch HIV. It is time for you to move on with no worries about it. Before you ask any follow-up questions, please use the search link to see the innumerable other discussions that go into greater details about risk, test reliability, and the non-effect of other medicines and illnesses on test reliability.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Since you used a condom and the exposure was in a country where HIV is rare, even among sex workers, there was no HIV risk and you did not need testing at all. HIV is not transmitted by fingering or kissing, regardless of the health of the lips and gums. The negative blood tests you had prove you were not infected.
1) No risk, no testing was needed except for emotional support from the negative result.
2-4) All HIV blood tests are reliable and all of them turn positive within 6-8 weeks (usually 4 weeks) of exposure. Your negative result at 10 weeks proves you were not infected with either HIV type 1 or 2.
5) No medicine in existance alters the reliability of HIV test results, with the possible exception of potent chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs.
Bottom line: You didn't catch HIV. It is time for you to move on with no worries about it. Before you ask any follow-up questions, please use the search link to see the innumerable other discussions that go into greater details about risk, test reliability, and the non-effect of other medicines and illnesses on test reliability.
Regards-- HHH, MD
wow, that was impressive, fast and precise, thanks a lot Doc., appreciate your help. you guys are the best. i don´t want to waste any more of your time, so i guess this would be my last comment on this topic.
God Bless You
God Bless You
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Potent immunosuppressive drugs are taken only for life-threatening conditions -- like people who have had organ transplants, who have certain kinds of severe athritis, and so on. Such drugs are similar to cancer chemotherapy and you would know if you were taking one. Psychoactive drugs like Seroxat have no effect on HIV test result.
First, I would like to thank you doctor for your comprehensive and right to the point answers, you can't imagine how relieved I am to hear such an answer from one of the best in the field.
Secondly, with all due respect to all members of the community forum, its always more comforting and assuring to get the result from the mouth of the expert.
I have taken your advice and went through the forums and I did get answers to a zillion questions which were pounding my head night and day, but I only have one small follow up if I may.
You said that " No medicine in existence alters the reliability of HIV test results, with the possible exception of potent chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs."
As for the potent chemotherapy, I think I know what that exactly means, on the other hand I have no idea what immunosuppressive drugs are, so I do take your answer that the medications I have described are not classified as immunosuppressive drugs, but what I failed to mention is that I was –at the time- and still on an OCD medication called SEROXAT 20 Mg. is that medicine classified as an immunosuppressive drug? Does it affect my Non Reactive result in any way?
Thank you in advance for your answer and my God bless you for all your outstanding efforts in this field.
Secondly, with all due respect to all members of the community forum, its always more comforting and assuring to get the result from the mouth of the expert.
I have taken your advice and went through the forums and I did get answers to a zillion questions which were pounding my head night and day, but I only have one small follow up if I may.
You said that " No medicine in existence alters the reliability of HIV test results, with the possible exception of potent chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs."
As for the potent chemotherapy, I think I know what that exactly means, on the other hand I have no idea what immunosuppressive drugs are, so I do take your answer that the medications I have described are not classified as immunosuppressive drugs, but what I failed to mention is that I was –at the time- and still on an OCD medication called SEROXAT 20 Mg. is that medicine classified as an immunosuppressive drug? Does it affect my Non Reactive result in any way?
Thank you in advance for your answer and my God bless you for all your outstanding efforts in this field.
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