Should I test

[Wishiknewmore]

Drs,
Thanks for the great info and reassurance you provide here on the forum. I have been reading many posts and will try to summarize my question and situation quickly

I had protected insertive sex about 8 weeks ago I am fairly certain the condom did not rupture ( as I have read that there is no way not to kow this if it happened) I have also read tin your past responses that there is about a 1% chance of infection if the person was positive ( my partner status unknown)

Anxiety got the best of me at 6 weeks and did an oraquick home oral test ( actually 2 to insure no user error) both results were negitive

My question is the following

Would you recommend more testing? If so when should I test again 8 weeks?
How accurate is the 6 weeks oraquick advance results?

Or should I accept the first test results and the safe sex act as final and move on?

[Wishiknewmore]

Thanks dr. H

I wanted to give you an update I tested again at 8 weeks with the oraquick advanced home test (OTC) and again like you said negitive result

I know you said 100% accurate at 6 weeks but it is now so easy and fast to test with this OTC method I figured one more should pose no risk

With this additional test would you say it's safe to return to unprotected sex with my regular partner? I have been avoiding this for 2 months
Thanks again and happy new year

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The average risk for unprotected anal sex, from the anal to penile partner, if the anal partner has HIV, has been calculated at 1 in 500 -- still well away from 1%.  So this clarification doesn't change my opinion or advice.

Thanks for the thanks about the forum.

[Wishiknewmore]

Thanks for the quick response

My apologies for Misquoting the data at 1% my parter was male and as I stated status unknown

Percentages aside I will take your advice and the neg results of the 6 week test and end this thread
Please continue to keep us all informed as the knowledge you and dr hook share is very helpful

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

You had accurate replies in your two separate threads on the HIV community forum.  You had a no-risk exposure and did not need testing for HIV.  You have misinterpreted something you read on this forum:  neither I nor Dr. Hook ever said an exposure like yours has anything near a 1% chance of catching HIV, even if your partner were positive.  If she is female and had HIV, the risk would be an average around 1 in 2,000.  With the condom, it's zero -- and it is statistically unlikely your partner had HIV anyway.

Finally, a negative HIV antibody test, including the Oraquick home self test, is virtually 100% reliable at 6 weeks.  For more discussion about this, including the reasons that most official sources still advise testing at 3 months, see the thread linked below.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1704700

The bottom line is exactly as you state:  you should "accept the first test results and the safe sex act as final and move on".

I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe--  HHH, MD