How long after chemotherapy can one reliably test for HIV?

[worried655]

I had chemo drugs 1 year ago. Now fast forward to 3 months ago, I had sex and want to test for hiv for peace of mind. Will the chemo therapy that I had 1 year ago mean my window period for HIV will be elongated? I’ve read chemo therapy or cancer drugs do elongate hiv window period to 6 months, but is that for those currently on chemotherapy? Or is it also for people like me who had chemo in the past? I’m so confused

[CurfewX]

This is a better question for your doctor than an online forum.  However, I presume that you have been having regular blood tests post-chemo to determine whether your lyphocytes (white blood cells) have returned to normal.  If they have, then you're no longer considered immunocompromised and the test results will not be affected by your previous chemotherapy.  The time it takes for your immune system to return to normal is affected by a variety of factors, including which drugs you took and individual differences.

[worried655]

Actually I did not have cancer. The drug I took was for my acne, it’s called Roaccutane Isotretinoin, I’ve read that it is a chemotherapy drug used to treat skin cancers, I was given it for acne, I took it for 8 months or so, but I wonder if it would affect the hiv test reliability now one year later?

[CurfewX]

That's not chemotherapy and will not affect your systemic immunity.  Thus, it will have no effect on an HIV test even if you are currently using it.

[worried655]

But the medicines literature  says it’s a chemotherapy drug, you can see here http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/accutane.aspx

It says it’s an anti cancer chemo drug..that’s why I’m very worried, please tell me what to do?

[CurfewX]

I am aware of the information, and my advice stands.  I already told you what to do.

[worried655]

So when they say chemotherapy delays window period to 6 months what do they mean by that? What sort of chemotherapy are they talking about??

[CurfewX]

The kind that systemically suppresses immunity.  If you were on THAT kind of chemotherapy, you would know.  Your doctor would tell you to be isolated as much as possible, and to wear a mask because something as small as a bad cold could kill you.

[worried655]

Right, so accutane is not considered chemo even if it’s a chemo drug? and it would not affect my hiv test right?

[worried655]

The test I will take will be antibody antigen combo test, so accutane will not affect the antibodies or antigens to hiv or cause a false negative or false positive result right?

[Kirstie_MHModerator]

You have been advised multiple times that the drug you were on does not count as "chemotherapy," and will not affect your test results.  There's no additional question you could ask that would not be repetitive.

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