The false positive business refers primarily to testing for the virus (DNA tests), not the standard HIV antibody tests.
The time to positive HIV tests has been repeatedly discussed on this forum. Read any of the existing innumerable threads. The bottom line is that if you get tested at all, I suggest you have a single antibody test around 6 weeks after the event you are concerned about.
That's it for this thread. I won't have any further comments.
Sorry for the follow up. I was planning on being tested at 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks, even thought my risk seems very low. However, while researching the forum I read where you and Dr. Hook have advised people with such very low risk not be tested at all because of the fear of false positives. Should I therefore not get tested? I promise this is the only possible exposure I have had since my last prior negative test.
Also what are the % for an accurate test at 3, 4 and 5 weeks. Thanks
I misunderstood your original comment. You don't necessarily have genital herpes just because your wife does. My reply should have read "If (not 'since') you have genital herpes...." Assuming your wife's herpes is due to HSV-2, there's roughly a 50% chance that you also are infected.
It's up to you whether to be tested HSV. Search the STD forum for innumerable discussions about HSV diagnosis, transmission risk, etc. You can also find many references there to excellent websites with information about genital herpes.
Thank you so much for your answer. The only remaining question I have relates to herpes. By your answer it sounds that my chances of having genital herpes is 100%. Is that correct? I have never had any symptoms what so ever (it is my wife that has it for sure). If it was not your intention to imply that I have herpes, what are my chances of having it with no symptoms? Should I get tested? Does it have adverse general health affects?
Thanks again and I will take your advice on the RNA.
Hello!
Dear frined your state is similar to mine, that i was an insertive partner of Oral sex and also that it was the only one episode of Oral sex that I did in my whole life.(it a great guilt that I am trying to forget, but I thank the Allah "God" that i am a negative of rapid HIV1/2 test after 7.5 month from that event.
Dr HHH wanted to tell you, that you really really don't have HIV from the same exposure that you did.
And as for Dr HHH I am going to say him that , really you are so humble and I think or as it were I am sure that all of us like and respect you and dr HooK , Not becasue both of you help the others but also becasue both of you give the others a satisfying answers that help them to understand their states.
Thanks a lot for Dr HHH and HooK and I wish to be a lot of you in our world.
Thank you for the confidence, but I am far from the "most knowledgeable person" on HIV transmission issues. 99% of the people who are experts in this arena just don't have online forums.
Receiving oral sex is such low risk for HIV transmission that some experts believe it never happens; the 1 in 20,000 risk is the maximum estimate. Even this risk assumes your partner had HIV, which is unlikely, despite her drug history. I suppose your risk might be a little higher, since you have genital herpes -- but still too low to worry about. Like a lot of people, you apparently have an inflated perspective about HIV frequency in heterosexual men and women in the US.
To the specific questions:
1) So what if your risk was eleveated to, say, 1 in 10,000? If you assume a 10% chance your partner had HIV, that translates to a 1 in 100,000 risk you caught HIV. Put that in perspective: If you live in the US, your risk of dying of an accident in the next 12 months. That is 57 times higher than the chance you caught HIV.
2,3) From a risk assessment or medical perspective, you do not need HIV testing on account of this exposure, and RNA testing is not smart. The chance of a false positive result is higher than the chance you were infected. Think what you'll go through for several days if the RNA test is positive, but turns out to be false. It isn't worth the time and energy. If you insist on testing for the psychological reassurance it might give, just have a standard antibody test 6 weeks after the event. You can be sure of a negative result. (If it were positive and you were my patient, my first response would be to look you in the eye and say "OK, let's talk about your real risks. You didn't get it from the ** a few weeks ago.")
4) I never guarantee someone isn't infected. But if I were in your situation, I would not hesitate to have sex with my wife.
I hope this helps. Best wishes. (And don't forget to use your seatbelt.)
Regards-- HHH, MD
its simple i am no dr but i would bet the dr is going to tell you no risk