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Avatar universal

help me ! I am so worried!

I am from Japan and I a 24 years old male. About 35 days ago I have had an  unprotected sex with a sex worker in Japan  and then began to worry about the infection of HIV, I did real time pcr test at 13 days after exposure and 4th generation agab test at 26days and antibody test at 29days, and all these results are negative but I am still worrying because I felt chest distress at 22days after exposure and a lot of influenza symptoms like cough and spit, now the influenza symptoms becomes better but chest distress is still very serious.
Here is my question:
1 According to the tests that I did, can I consider I am definitely not infected by HIV?
2 These symptoms are not typical HIV early symptoms, right?
Sorry for my poor English, please help me, I am like in hell now!
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Avatar universal
+ symptoms mean nothing. Also, what you mention are nothing specific to HIV ARS. You are fine, please seek help for your obsession. You have got the best analysis for yourself through tests that's rational. Your paranoia is making yout observe your body at all times  and relating every little change to HIV that's irrational. Think wisely separate the rational from irrational. Should you still have problems,  please seek counseling. Good luck.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thank you very much, I will do 4th generation duo test at 6 weeks mark and completely let myself free from HIV scary. Although I know I am OK now according to all these tests I did, I need 100% proof mainly because I have wife, I need to responsible for her.

Yes,  you are right, I am in paranoia now, not only because the CDC in Japan told me that I need to do antibody test at 3 months mark, but also because I feel so sorry to my wife.

Anyway, thank you very much for your help, I will do volunteer work in CDC of Japan to atone for my crime.

If you want to visit Japan someday, please let me know.
Again, thank you very much for your help during the darkest period of my whole life.
Avatar universal
Yes your PCR was very sensitive. Dr.Handsfeild knows the best.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Undetectable RT-PCR RNA at 13 days seals the deal for me there. Your result won't change. PCRs are very sensitive in nature, the RT-RNA PCRs available today are capable of detecting as low as 15 copies / 100 ml, 72 hour post exposure, this test looks for the genetic material of HIV directly and only gets better with time, considering the replication system of the HIV virus in most cases, it multiplies in thousands every day that only implies that an RNA PCR in the intermidiate phase 10-14 days post exposure is successful in detecting the infection if it was caused at the first place. So, if you have the money to spend this is a great test.

I will not get in to the reasoning part of your doctor's choice to administer you on this test despite of no indicative symptoms or high risk exposure. However, will certainly tell you when it comes to the PCR RNA, it is certainly more reliable in terms of detection as it has an quantifying approach, than the DNA counterpart.

Also, In 2006, RNA PCR test was approved by FDA for diagnostic purpose. However, it is not a stand-alone test, an "undetected" test result has to be backed by an anti-body at the 6th week by a standard antibody test or at 28 days with a IV Gen HIV test. (An undetected PCR result changing, if taken at the right time frame is very unlikely)

This is for the other WWs who might be following this post - Coming to false positives, let me give you some thing besides what a lot of "Copy - Paste" jing bang wouldn't agree to - False positives are a concern of yesteryears, I am not saying it doesn't happen any more but, the ratio has dropped considerably, the testing technology has developed, methodologies have changed. If you yield a false positive, your blood sample would be re-tested with out even your knowledge for confirmatory reason to avoid any scope of  false detection.

I wish you good luck. I feel it's very unlikely that you will contract any thing from this one episode of penetrative sex, you should be fine. Just ensure that you back your "undetected" PCR result with one AB test at the 6th week or Duo at 28 days, I am very confident that you are only due expecting a "Negative" on your AB Test.
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1 Comments
Sir, thank you very much for telling me these facts that I did not know. Sorry to bother you again but I still have some questions for you:
1. I confirmed again that the PCR  test which I did is HIV-1 RNA quantitative test(20copy/ml) by cobas taqman, is this test the one you mentioned? Also if it is approved for diagnostic purpose,why the result can not be conclusive for HIV-1? (There are no HIV-2 infections in Japan so I do not worry about HIV-2)

2.As I mentioned, I also did 4th generation duo test in 26 days after exposure, do I still need 4th generation test again?

3.Dr. HHH told me that RT-PCR test in 10-15 days plus 4 weeks antibody test can be 100% reliable, do you agree with it?

Actually if I do not have so many symptoms like chest distress and cough and last for so long time, I will not be so worried, now I really need 100% proof to reduce my anxious.
Very sorry to bother you again, I really learned my lesson, I will never ever let it happen again.
Wish you happy every minutes.
Avatar universal
Your symptoms are nothing to do with hiv and hiv has no specific symptoms. Although you had your tests done and it more 100% that you have no hiv. Don’t put mind and health in such situations something doesn’t exists. Have healthy sex which mean protected at any cost and you always free from hiv. Be happy and enjoy your life every minute
Helpful - 0
6 Comments
Thank you very much. I will  never let it happen  again.
What kind of unprotected sex did you have?
I had a virginal sex with a sex worker in Japan without condom, do you think that  I am 100% no infection although I have so many symptoms?
It’s already 32 days and wait for 10 more days and test for 4th generation test. You will free from this from your mind. Just antiagent or combo that is antiagent and antibody at 32 days are not conclusive. You have to do it after 42 days that is 6 weeks. Only NAT afor 28 days and RNA for 9 days are okay. Again RNA tests are still under studies as far as I know. So do NAT now or 4th generation test after 10 days. The results are conclusive. Just with symptoms you cannot say that you are with hiv. If you see only 70% of people produced symptoms. Take your mind to easy and wait for 10 days. And in 10 days nothing is going to change really. With you negative results from test and always practice safe sex to keep yourself says for hiv and also form other STIs
Thank you very much for your reply, sorry to bother you again but I am quite confused now since according to Dr.HHH, 4th generation duo test 28 days after exposure or PCR test in 10-15 days plus antibody test after 4 weeks are all conclusive, so I am wondering whether it is right, or your perspective are more accurate.
Here what I wanna ask you is:
I will do 6 weeks 4th duo test for sure, but do I still have possibility of infection of HIV? Or just for me to free from my mind.?
Thank you for your reply in advance.
My tests are:
1.real time pcr test (20copy/ml)in 13 days after exposure.
2.4th generation antibody/antigen test(CLEIA) in 26 days after exposure.
3.3th generation antibody test in 29 days after exposure.
My symptoms began at 22 days after exposure, not including high fever and rash.
370181 tn?1595629445
Your tests are conclusively negative. You do NOT have HIV.
Symptoms are NEVER used to diagnose HIV. If you are still experiencing chest discomfort, please see your doctor as soon as possible.
And ALWAYS use a condom.
We wish you the best
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thank you very much for your helping.
I DO learned a lesson, and hope you and your family happy forever from Japan.
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