Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

When is earliest HIV test result accurate? AND MORE

On June 13th I had unprotected sex with a girl (I’m male) while on holiday. On July 24th I noticed a swollen lymph node in my groin, which has never happened before. I then started to have an increasing more painful sore throat & feel increasingly ill and the next week I was checked by a doctor and was told I had tonsillitis. It was terrible but after I had finished my dosage of antibiotics my sore throat has been gone. For these reasons I started to worry about potentially having HIV after checking symptoms online (sending myself into a ridiculous panic). I did one of those Insti Home HIV tests on July 26th (6 weeks/37 days after risk) which came back negative. The next week while my tonsillitis was in full flow, I went to a clinic and had a full STI test on 31st July (almost 7 weeks after). I’ve had my results from this test and I tested negative for all STIs including HIV.
However, one day before I first got the lymph node in my groin (July 23rd), I had unprotected sex with a different girl. I told her about my worries after I got the symptoms and due to the initial shock and panic she went into it made me think that she didn’t have HIV. She’s been tested in the past for HIV but has had unprotected sex with other men since her last test. She also recently had a chlamydia and gonnorhea test come back that was negative.
During this whole time I also had protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral sex with 2 completely other different girls but I’ve read they are low/no risk. I’ve also still got the lymph nodes in my groin & neck and recently I’ve been feeling really light headed and dizzy.
So that’s pretty much the background but what I want to know is how accurate are the results I already have in ruling out the first incident as I have seen some places say that it’s accurate after 21 days but then others say you must wait 3 months. Also is anyone aware of the INSTI HIV test and how reliable it is?
Secondly I want to know when I can test again just to rule out the 2nd incident and when my result will be accurate. I’d also like to use the INSTI test again as it is discreetly done at home and results are given instantly which cut out the anxious wait time.
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Are any of these encounters not listed on your other threads?  
Helpful - 0
5 Comments
Yes the final one which I want to get tested for. Also would like to know whether results of my last test rule out my first possible risk?
You are concerned about this one? Was it was vaginal or oral. ".. (July 23rd), I had unprotected sex with a different girl."

This is the advice I gave you last month listing testing conclusiveness.
"Symptoms prove nothing, so nothing is pointing toward you having HIV. You need to stop Googling because it is useless as a diagnostic and only a test can provide answers. Try to relax until you can test.
Oral is not a risk for HIV so it is just the vaginal that was a risk. You can take a duo after 4 weeks or any other test after 3 months."
I should have been clearer and said the duo is conclusive after 4 weeks and other is conclusive after 3 months.
Thank you so much for your answer. Sorry to sound stupid for asking but are duo tests the ones that you’d get in a walk in Sexual Health clinic?
You have to ask them what test they use.
This discussion was closed by the MedHelp Community Moderation team. If you have any questions please contact us.

You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community

Top HIV Answerers
366749 tn?1544695265
Karachi, Pakistan
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.