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Are rapid tests reliable after 6 months of exposure?

I had unprotected oral sex and genital rubbing without full penetration into vagina but could feel moisture/wetness once. After the exposure I had rapid 3rd gen tests with serum at 5,6,7 months post exposure. Since I am from India we dnt have idea about quality and accuracy of rapid tests. Are the results reliable? Or is ELISA still needed. It is done only if rapid is positive here. The rapid kits used were lateral flow and dot immunoassay.
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20620809 tn?1504362969
The risks for HIV include and ONLY include unprotected vaginal or anal sex or sharing of IV drug needles.  Oral sex and genital rubbing are not risks.  Air and saliva both deactivate the virus.  You had zero risk.  This is backed up by your negative tests. The third generation test is accurate at 3 months.  You do not have HIV.  
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3 Comments
Thank you for your reply. I was worried that there could have been contact with vaginal fluids due to rubbing or even slight penetration of tip without knowledge so got tested. Are the rapid POC kits as good as ELISA after window period?
Your situation involves personal contact with an object in air  (rubbing her genitals, etc. which is not a risk for hiv.) No worries, because you can't get hiv from personal contact except unprotected penetrating vaginal or anal, neither of which you did and you didn't share hollow needles to inject with which is the only other way to acquire hiv. Analysis of large numbers of infected people over the 40 years of hiv history has proven that people don't get hiv in the way you are worried is a risk.
HIV is a fragile virus in air or saliva and is effectively instantly dead in either air or saliva so the worst that could happen is dead virus rubbed you, and obviously anything which is dead cannot live again so you are good. Blood and cuts would not be relevant in your situation since the hiv has become effectively dead, so you don't have to worry about them to be sure that you are safe.
There is no reason for a person to test when they are safe and GR has already explained your tests were conclusive so no need to keep wondering about them - especially since they were just placebo tests.
If you penetrated you would know it. It was wise of you not to have penetrating sex with someone who doesn't use a condom. Enjoy your life because you are safe.
Thank you for your reply.
Avatar universal
The encounter was with a high risk Street sex worker who ddnt use condom inspite of asking because of which encounter ddnt proceed more.
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