Professional advice

[glenn321]

Hi Doctors. Like so many before me my question relates to alot of people that have asked the same questions but I wanted to ask as I wanted a response in relation to my own personal situation. I had unprotected sex with a person that I work with. I was drunk and it was a very big mistake and has caused the biggest amount of aniexty in my life.
I ask these question below as I am about to get married and as this happened almost 6 months ago I do not want to infect my future wife if I am HIV positive. My concern is that I found out that the person I slept with was positive with HIV as she has left work. I have had the follow tests at the following times. 4th Gen combo at 25 days, 6 weeks, 14 weeks and a final test at 23 weeks. All were negative thank god. Questions: 1)Should I have another test to be 100% confident. 2)Is it safe beyond any doubt to have unprotected sex with my future wife as I am scared about infecting her if I am positive. 3)Is there any chance I can have HIV beyond 5 months? 4)Should I be concerned or have any doubts about moving forward. 5) Am I 100% in the clear?.  I live in Australia and the local clinic said 12 weeks is fine but I wanted your opinion. Thanking you in advance  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Re-read all my replies above.  You may not continue to post every anxiety driven "what if" or "yes but" question that comes to mind.  The next time you do it the entire thread will be immediately deleted.  And you may not ask the same sorts of things in a new thread, which also would be deleted without reply (and without refund).  

[glenn321]

Dr Hunter. I have some concern as I recently started to get small pimples around my body, one or two from one body area to another which is itchy. Is it too far long for ARS or any type of symptoms for HIV or should I be concerned?

[glenn321]

Thanks and I forgot to say Congratulations on your award from last year. Well done and thanks again for helping folks like me.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Foolproof.  You don't have HIV.  Try to move beyond your obsession with it.

This thread is over.

[glenn321]

sorry to be a pain. I had an Abbott architect test which I believe is a automated test which is used by large labs. Is there any chance of human errors with these lab tests or are they full proof against human errors? thank you

[glenn321]

Thank you. Your review of my circumstances can help me move on from now.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Sorry, yes it's a typo; you do NOT need any additional testing.  The context makes that obvious, don't you think?

If you really believe I have given you and this question less attention than others, then you have not read the forum very carefully.  No question gets less than my undivided, personal attention -- typing errors notwithstanding.  Some issues are straightforward and super-simple; yours is among them.

[glenn321]

I am really confused. You just said "Of course you do need any additional testing ". Is this a typing mistake or did you mean I do not need further testing?. I don't think its fair that you have ended the thread without giving my question the attention that you have with other questions on this forum. I hope you can finish with the correct response

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I didn't re-read the original question to see how many tests you have had.  Of course you do need any additional testing until and unless you have a legitimate high risk exposure.

This thread is definitely over.

[expendable]

Have you terminal cancer? Are you long-time intravenous drug user ? If not, you are out from every window period that exists on this planet. You are clear. No doubt about is.

[glenn321]

I did as I mentioned in my first post. I had four duo tests at 25days, 6 weeks, 14 weeks (3.5months) and 23 weeks (5.75 months). All were negative. The last test was more than 5.5 months post exposure. Not to be rude but I thought you read this. To repeat myself to clarify things. Do I need to test again or can I stand by your first response?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I stand by my original judgment and advice.  However, most persons who remain anxious after such strong reassurance should consider repeat HIV tesitng anyway.  Perhaps a final negative test at 3 months after the event will help you get beyond your fears of catching HIV.  So feel free to get tested again.  This does not mean I believe there is any chance you were infected.  I do not.

[glenn321]

I can confirm that she has HIV as she told me so. Do you still stand by your commemts from your initial feedback or do I need to test further for the safety of my partner. This will be my final post and I do hope you could please respond. Thank you for the time

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Test results overrule symptoms and exposure.  No matter how high the risk of exposure, your test results prove you were not infected.

Anyway, I don't accept that your partner is likely to be HIV positive simply because "she has left work".  That doesn't imply anything about her health.  The turnover among commercial sex workers is very high for innumerable reasons other than having HIV or another STD.

That will be all for this thread.  Please accept the unequivocal reassurance you have had and move on with your life.

[glenn321]

Hello Dr Hunter

Thanks for the prompt response. I am not sure if you understood that the person was positive for HIV. Is that low risk?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  But you and other potential questioners should understand that no online expert can truly take all the individual circumstances into consideration.  As we have said innumerable times, it is extraordinarily rare for someone to catch HIV from a single unprotected heterosexual exposure, and it is especially rare when the partner is a co-worker or other person not obviously at high risk for HIV.

We also have said repeatedly that the HIV combo test for antibody plus p24 antigen is 100% reliable when done 4 weeks or more after the last possible exposure.  (All the apparent debate about HIV window period, e.g. 6-8 weeks versus 3 months, applies only to the stand-aone antibody tests, not the combo test.  Just as with all those other stories on this forum, of course the same statistics apply to you.  Your 25 day test was virtually 100% proof you weren't infected, and the 6 week test proved it even further.  All later tests were wasted.

1) You do not need any addtional testing.  You should be 100% confident right now.

2) It is absolutely safe to have unprotected sex with your partner.  (If I had been in a situation like yours, I would never have stopped having unprotected sex with my wife.)

3) No.  4) No.  5) Yes.

Truly, you shouldn't be at all worried.  You had an extremely low risk exposure and your test results prove 100% that you didn't catch HIV.

Regards--  HHH, MD