HIV

[worried8901]

Hello Doctor,

I will tell you my sad story, I had unprotected oral sex twice with a sex worker in a massage shop in 2012 October ( twice on different days with the same sex worker ) and then a protected sex with another sex worker in another massage center in london 2012 November, then I became extremely worried about HIV and other STD's , so I had all these HIV tests : PCR RNA at 14 days, DUO test at 6 weeks, DUO test at exactly 68 days, INSTI Rapid test in 83 days, INSTI Rapid test at exactly 94 days, DUO test at around 6 months, and another 2 DUO test were done at 9 months. ALL the results were Negative " Not detected " and also I had full STD's screen at 9 months and all results were negative.

But I am still worried doctor, if my body did not develop antibodies to HIV if I was infected. is it possible ? because I remember that I read in a thread about HSV2 for Dr Hunter here in this forum saying that 1% of infected people with HSV2 do not develop measurable antibodies to HSV2, is this the same situation with HIV? are there some people will not develop antibodies for HIV? can I be completely confident that I am HIV Negative? I am also worried about rare types if the tests could not detect them.

And just to let you know doctor that that was the first time for me to have sex.

What do you think Doctor?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'll try to help.  Your tests show that you do not have HIV- unequivocally.   Even before you were tested, there was no risk for HIV from the exposures you describe.  Condom protected sex is safe sex and there has never been a case of HIV shown to be acquired through receipt of oral sex- not ever.  Further, you have been tested on a number of occasions when results are absolutely reliable using tests that detect not only HIV antibodies but the virus itself.  Concerns that you might not produce antibodies are not warranted- if you were infected you would have produced antibodies. Similarly, concerns about so-called "rare" or "variant" stains are an internet-fueled fantasy and not a concern.  Believe your tests.

Your results are unequivocal.  You do not have HIV.  If you cannot accept this, my advice would be to seek professional counseling to help you move forward.  EWH

[worried8901]

Hello Doctor Edward,

Thanks for your comment,

Sorry my English is not good, you said "Concerns that you might not produce antibodies are not warranted" can you tell me what did you mean by not warranted please. are there some people will not develop HIV antibodies if they are infected?

And is it right that 1% of the infected people with HSV2 will not develop antibodies for HSV2 ? because I had 4 HSV tests ( IgG ) and all were Negative for HSV2 and positive HSV1 which I am fine with it I am just concerned about HSV2 . ( The first one was at 80 days from the protected sex, the second one at 9 months, and the last two were at one year and a month)

Sorry again about my English.
Many thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

All person with HIV develop antibodies to the virus. if you were infected, you would have antibodies.,  You did not produce antibodies.  Therefore you are not infected.  

You are correct that a small proportion of person with HSV do not develop antibodies to the virus but most people do.  After 4 negative tests and without signs of infection however you should have complete confience that you did not get HSV from the exposure you describe either,.  EWH

[worried8901]

Thank you very much Doctor,

And sorry I made a mistake, the test at 6 months from the protected sex I had was not DUO test, but it was a test looks for both the antibodies and the antigen I remember. So I think it is similar to duo.

Many thanks Doctor

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The test you had, which looks for both HIV antigen and antibody are referred to as DUO tests.  Believe the result. EWH