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Is p24 antigen/antibody 4th Gen HIV test TRULY conclusive after 4 weeks?
Hello All,
First off, I wanted to disclose that I do have a history of anxiety and I recognize that this may be contributing to my fears. I am a female in a heterosexual monogamous relationship. Prior to becoming intimate, my partner and I got tested for most STI's including herpes 1 and 2 as well as HIV 1 and 2. All came out negative. Prior to our relationship, my partner confided in not having had intercourse with anyone for about 65 days prior to us meeting and is big on having used protection in the past. We use protection most of the time due in the relationship as a contraceptive method, however there have been a few times where it was not used. One particular time using protection, the condom slipped off during sex after he had finished and some semen did spill out while it was still stuck inside. Due to my anxiety, I convinced my partner to test again (this will have been 1 month after initially going together to get tested) for HIV using a rapid 4th gen antibody test and it came back negative. I don't have any reason to believe that he has been unfaithful during the relationship, but I have always been raised on the notion that condoms should always be used even within a monogamous relationship and feel wary that (even if it's a small unrealistic chance) I may have put myself at risk. I have been looking into testing guidelines and most still state that regardless of what generation of testing is used, that you should still go back at 3 months for a confirmatory negative result. I find this stressful as I would just like to test exactly at 28 days with the DUO and put this worry behind me. I know that window periods have been changing over the last several years due to more accurate diagnostic tests, but just want a confirmation that with a negative result at 28 days post possible exposure and can move on with my life and relationship and COMPLETELY put this worry behind me, without a need to go for any follow up testing related to this exposure. For complete assurance, I also plan to order a DNA PCR HIV test on the same day. Would a negative result from both, or even one, of these tests be enough for me to move on? Thanks.
First off, I wanted to disclose that I do have a history of anxiety and I recognize that this may be contributing to my fears. I am a female in a heterosexual monogamous relationship. Prior to becoming intimate, my partner and I got tested for most STI's including herpes 1 and 2 as well as HIV 1 and 2. All came out negative. Prior to our relationship, my partner confided in not having had intercourse with anyone for about 65 days prior to us meeting and is big on having used protection in the past. We use protection most of the time due in the relationship as a contraceptive method, however there have been a few times where it was not used. One particular time using protection, the condom slipped off during sex after he had finished and some semen did spill out while it was still stuck inside. Due to my anxiety, I convinced my partner to test again (this will have been 1 month after initially going together to get tested) for HIV using a rapid 4th gen antibody test and it came back negative. I don't have any reason to believe that he has been unfaithful during the relationship, but I have always been raised on the notion that condoms should always be used even within a monogamous relationship and feel wary that (even if it's a small unrealistic chance) I may have put myself at risk. I have been looking into testing guidelines and most still state that regardless of what generation of testing is used, that you should still go back at 3 months for a confirmatory negative result. I find this stressful as I would just like to test exactly at 28 days with the DUO and put this worry behind me. I know that window periods have been changing over the last several years due to more accurate diagnostic tests, but just want a confirmation that with a negative result at 28 days post possible exposure and can move on with my life and relationship and COMPLETELY put this worry behind me, without a need to go for any follow up testing related to this exposure. For complete assurance, I also plan to order a DNA PCR HIV test on the same day. Would a negative result from both, or even one, of these tests be enough for me to move on? Thanks.
That is an epic story.
Only the head needs protection so if that happened you had no risk. HIV is dead in air, so when the condom stuck inside if he pulled out with a condom still covering his head then it is no risk. 3 months testing is outdated but if you hunt the internet you can find conservative sites that tell you that you have a risk from someone spitting at you, so lots of testing advice from sites like that is useless.
Duo is conclusive at 28 days, but I can't imagine why you are even thinking you had a risk. You can actually get E Coli and die from lettuce but you don't test for that after every meal, so your priorities are misplaced when you focus on something you can't have.
Only the head needs protection so if that happened you had no risk. HIV is dead in air, so when the condom stuck inside if he pulled out with a condom still covering his head then it is no risk. 3 months testing is outdated but if you hunt the internet you can find conservative sites that tell you that you have a risk from someone spitting at you, so lots of testing advice from sites like that is useless.
Duo is conclusive at 28 days, but I can't imagine why you are even thinking you had a risk. You can actually get E Coli and die from lettuce but you don't test for that after every meal, so your priorities are misplaced when you focus on something you can't have.
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Thank you so much for your response. When he pulled out the condom was still stuck inside me, so I am not sure if it was actually covering his head the during intercourse for the whole time. If my partner were HIV positive (though its highly likely that he is telling the truth and the tests seem pretty conclusive), wouldn't I still be at risk through the semen that spilled out inside of me from the condom?
Only you can figure if it was on when he was penetrating but I listed below how HIV is spread in case that helps. Since he already tested but you don't trust that result, then do a duo at 28 and call it a day. Or ask him to retest. Any kind of test is conclusive after 12 weeks.
HIV is a fragile virus, which is instantly inactivated in air and also in saliva which means it is effectively dead so it can't infect from touching, external rubbing or oral activities. It doesn't matter if you and they were actively bleeding or had cuts at the time either because the HIV is effectively dead.
Only 3 adult risks are the following:
1. unprotected penetrating vaginal with a penis
2. unprotected penetrating anal sex with a penis
3. sharing needles that you inject with. These 3 are all you need to know to protect yourself against HIV.
HIV is a fragile virus, which is instantly inactivated in air and also in saliva which means it is effectively dead so it can't infect from touching, external rubbing or oral activities. It doesn't matter if you and they were actively bleeding or had cuts at the time either because the HIV is effectively dead.
Only 3 adult risks are the following:
1. unprotected penetrating vaginal with a penis
2. unprotected penetrating anal sex with a penis
3. sharing needles that you inject with. These 3 are all you need to know to protect yourself against HIV.
Thanks again for your response. You mentioned that only the head needs to be protected, this only refers to female to male transmission correct? Semen, regardless of how it gets into the vaginal cavity, can still be infectious right?
HIV semen would be infectious but since he tested negative and always used condoms before, this situation is too unrealistic for me to suggest a logical resolution because the issue is that you want guidance on how to conduct placebo testing. You should try therapy to deal with your anxiety issues if you haven't tried that yet.
I believe you should thoroughly read the answers provided by AnxiousNoMore again, especially the part that says "HIV is dead in air, so when the condom stuck inside if he pulled out with a condom still covering his head then it is no risk" and it does not ONLY apply for male and female intercourse, but male and male same sex as well. you keep asking the same questions over and over too, which is from your admitted anxiety. you were told how it is transmitted. also, although this has nothing to do with HIV and I try not to stray since this section is only for HIV, I believe it's odd to be in a relationship with someone if you cannot trust their HIV status, even after testing, and will subject them to more. in the future will you keep making them test if the condom breaks or slips? if i were the other person, i believe it would get old l, quick.
again sorry to stray. back to the topic, if you did not have unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse, you're fine. you stated it was inside you when he pulled his penis out, so it doesn't sound like your partners bare penis was penetrating you.
again sorry to stray. back to the topic, if you did not have unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse, you're fine. you stated it was inside you when he pulled his penis out, so it doesn't sound like your partners bare penis was penetrating you.
"Semen, regardless of how it gets into the vaginal cavity, can still be infectious right?" In my answer, I meant it is always infectious if it gets in while penetrating. It can't go into your vagina after penetration stops, so there is no "regardless issue" to consider..
Thanks again for your answers Anxiousnomore and laxus2012. I have been discussing this particular anxiety with a counselor and do recognize that it is highly irrational. It’s still just very difficult to accept that for some reason. I figured the best way to put this behind me would just be to test at 28 days so I have definitively proof in my hands. What I should have zeroed in on in my initial question is that although several posts on this forum state 28 days as concussive for duo tests, I cant seem to find where the CDC states 4 weeks as conclusive, what I find isn’t either 6 or 12 weeks
I had forgotten to mention that yes, some of the semen did spill out of the condom INSIDE the vagina. We had also engaged in unprotected sex in the past, but no ejaculation and I didn’t born know if precum poses a relative risk. Again I do recognize that a lot of my questions are anxiety driven, and just knowing the straightforward facts I know would be helpful. Thank you.
This answers all of your HIV questions in more detail, and if you can think of any more just reread about the 3.
HIV is a fragile virus, which is instantly inactivated in air and also in saliva which means it is effectively dead so it can't infect from touching, external rubbing or oral activities. It doesn't matter if you and they were actively bleeding or had cuts at the time either because the HIV is effectively dead.
Only 3 adult risks are the following:
1. unprotected penetrating vaginal with a penis
2. unprotected penetrating anal sex with a penis
3. sharing needles that you inject with. These 3 are all you need to know to protect yourself against HIV. The situation you describe is a long way from any of these 3.
Even with blood, lactation, cuts, rashes, burns, etc the air or the saliva does not allow inactivated virus to infect from touching, external rubbing or oral activities.
The above HIV science is 40 years old and very well established, so if you ever wonder if you have a risk, just reread it.
I have finished with this thread. Continue with the counselor because your problem is not disease, it is fear of disease.
HIV is a fragile virus, which is instantly inactivated in air and also in saliva which means it is effectively dead so it can't infect from touching, external rubbing or oral activities. It doesn't matter if you and they were actively bleeding or had cuts at the time either because the HIV is effectively dead.
Only 3 adult risks are the following:
1. unprotected penetrating vaginal with a penis
2. unprotected penetrating anal sex with a penis
3. sharing needles that you inject with. These 3 are all you need to know to protect yourself against HIV. The situation you describe is a long way from any of these 3.
Even with blood, lactation, cuts, rashes, burns, etc the air or the saliva does not allow inactivated virus to infect from touching, external rubbing or oral activities.
The above HIV science is 40 years old and very well established, so if you ever wonder if you have a risk, just reread it.
I have finished with this thread. Continue with the counselor because your problem is not disease, it is fear of disease.
"The situation you describe is a long way from any of these 3." Ignore that comment, but this whole thread is a bit irrational when your negative tested partner has you worried that he gave you HIV..
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