hiv tests

[Shane99999]

shouldnt be a concern. is tonsillitis a symptom too ?

4) My base body temperature has increased by 1 degree. (98 degree Celsious by mouth (36.6 F)).
Could this be because of seroconversion ? Earlier, it used to be 97 degrees as far as i remember. is temperature on the borderline a problem ?

5) Its 10.5 weeks now, and since last few days i am facing pain behind my neck which is extended towards my shoulders... (spondilitis area...) I heard that neck pain is a symptom of hiv.. could it be the case ?

6) is HIV DUO p24 CMIA fourth generation test at 9.3 weeks sufficient ? or do i need to undertake any further tests ? why the indian doctors in india here have advised me 6 months ? Is 6 months still a criteria for testing ?

7) I am scared to take a viral load test to detect because i heard that we shouldnt be using PCR tests for hiv detection as it could even give false positive. Shd I take this ?

8) I had masturbated in my washroom during taking shower, a few weeks later 1 of my family member got itchy rashes on their trunk. he said that he had been in the kitchen for long hours and because of the sweat, the rashes could have come. The rashes were accompanied by sore throat. I am really scared if there's any way my sperms could have come in contact with him ?

9) The test has the capability to detect antibodies of a variety of subgroups like M and O and as well as HIV2. what does group O mean here ? is it something to do with the blood group ? my blood group is O.

am sorry for so many questions.. as i dont have many ppl to speak to on the same...

thanks a lot doc

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

The important information in the first comment below:  "I went ahead for my tests. NOW, I had 6 weeks TRIDOT test and 9.3 weeks HIV DUO p24 CMIA Fourth Generation test, BOTh of which tested negative…."

The HIV blood tests are among the most accurate of all diagnostic tests, for any medical condition.  And you had the most accurate test of all, the duo test.  That result, 9 weeks after the last possible exposure to HIV, proves without doubt that you don't have HIV.

The rest of your questions really don't matter at all.  It doesn't matter how high or low the risk was (it was very low -- saliva does not transmit HIV, in fact saliva kills the virus); whether or not you had fever (you did not -- everybody's temperature varies normally by 1-3 degrees); or any other symptoms (white spots in the mouth are not worrisome for HIV).  Even if you had had a high risk exposure or typical symptoms, your test result rules and shows for sure you don't have HIV.

You don't need a viral load HIV test (don't waste your money!), and you needn't worry about HIV or any other STDs for any symptoms you or your family may have.  If any symptoms continue or still concern you, see a doctor.  But do your best to stop worrying about HIV.

Best regards--  HHH, MD

[Shane99999]

Hello Doctor, my previous post was incomplete.
may I request you to read the first part of the question below -

Hello Doctor,
I have thyroid. My T3 and T4 levels are normal by god's grace. TSH level is elevated(12.5), but since there are not much symptoms, doctors are avoiding any medication on me currently. My blood group is “O”

Around 73 days back, I deep Kissed a sex worker for a long time. I could have done kissing (deep mouth kissing) of 4-5 sessions for long durations(roughly 2-3 mins each).

It was after the act, I realized that I had 2 small cut in between my gum and front lower teeth,.which bleeds sometimes only when i apply too much of tongue force to it.  This made me panicked to hell for contracting any hiv infections.

I immediately called up the sex worker and made her do a basic elisa test for hiv, which turned out to be negative. HOWEVER, her blood platelets were much below the normal range. When i asked, she said its because of her continuous drinking habits and she is a heavy drunker. I asked her if she has any open cuts in her mouth to which she repeatedly said negative.

I went ahead for my tests. NOW, I had 6 weeks TRIDOT test and 9.3 weeks HIV DUO p24 CMIA Fourth Generation test, BOTh of which tested negative, by God's grace.

Had a few quests-

1) whats the risk category ?

2) Can saliva contain virus and enter the blood stream ? if yes, how long would it take to seroconvert ? is it a more than usual time because saliva contains less of virus ?

3) I had got single white spots on my tonsil in the third week which had gone automatically in 3 days. in last 2 months, I've got these white spots thrice now. and all the time, it went on its own in 3 days. I felt feverish for a couple of days during the sixth week and slight body pain for a day. The temperature would have been 98.7 degree oral, which went away after taking homeopathy medicine for 3 days. what are the reasons for these ? is slight swollen right tonsil (no pain) a symptom too ?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

See above.  Also, in the future, you'll need to limit questions to the opening window -- that's the reason for the 2,000 character limit (about 400 words).  I have never seen a question, including yours, that could not easily be stated within that limit, usually well under 1,000 characters.

Anyway, stop worrying.  For sure you were not at risk and do not have HIV.

[Shane99999]

Thanks a lot doc :)
I have also donated 22$ again in the same forum,.. but not for further questions but as my good will towards this great community website.

I accept your advise and your well wishes.

if at all, anxiety still gets better off me, i might go for he duo test again after 3 weeks,, which would also be 3 months post the risk.
It was only a few docs here who panicked me by saying 6 months...
thanks again doc.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'm glad to have helped.  Stay safe.  For more detailed information about time to reliable HIV test results -- and why some docs still recommend unnecessarily long intervals -- read the thread below (and the other one linked in that one).

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1891685

[Shane99999]

Thanks a lot for those links doc.
I really hope all the docs read these posts, before making any opinion on this case.
btw, out of curiosity, why do we do a CBC with hiv tests ?
does CBC show any sign ? Also can ESR remain in the normal range even in an infected person?
(i heard ESR is high only in bacterial infections... and not viral, is it true ? )
This is my second last post. I would end my post with another 2 weeks  testing on duo p24 antigen test results. ((it would also be 3 months after incident). ( i know you said, its not required... but i still see some tiny rashes going and coming, uncomfortable feeling in between in the right neck.. which gets me a bit curious.. so, making a final test.)
Thanks a lot for your time doc.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

"why do we do a CBC with hiv tests ?"

CBC is not part of routine HIV screening; we never do it along with STD testing in my STD clinic, for example.  However, CBC is commonly done when someone has symptoms whose cause is unknown.  It's also often done when the doc suspects nothing is seriously wrong, hoping the normal results will reassure the patient.

Same for ESR.  And ESR almost always would be elevated in ARS.

You don't need any more HIV testing -- and really no need to post any further results here.  If you do it, you can be sure of another negative result, and I won't have any comment about it.

[Shane99999]

thanks a lot doc.
i take your word. and would end my post here.
I agree to the fact that i havent been able to completely move on after that incident. I wish i could have spoken to you a month back and it would have been easier. But, nevertheless, speaking to you and getting knowledge from your recommended posts has been great.

Finally, one last question and you may close this thread. I wouldnt be doing further testing, as per your recommendations.

I read in your post that its only PEP, (if that couldnt work) which could lead into late seroconversion.
I wanted to know incase, any other vitamin tablets, or Ayurveda medicines that we have regularly to have a good fitness in day-to-day life could also lead into the late seroconversion ?

It might sound amateur, but there are some of the Ayurveda tablets which can be consumed daily without any side effects, keeps one healthy. (i have been eating that daily since quite sometime and its really effective in preventing seasonal viral, that people catch).

Just wanted to know if that could have any impact on my testings that i already had ?

thanks a ton doc, for reading my long posts and patiently replying all of them and on all points.

Thanks,
Shane

[Shane99999]

sorry doc, 1 last one over the above, is DUO p24 test also 100 percent accurate in asymtomatic individuals by the end of 9 weeks ?

thanks again.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

We don't expect much of users, but we do expect them to read our replies, as well as other information we provide, such as the link I provided above.  Will hearing the same information a third or fourth time in different words somehow make a difference?  

This thread is over.  Move on.