Aa
HIV testing
Hello Doc,
Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I engaged in a low risk activity which included manual stimulation at a massage parlor. Two days later I experienced a URI and liver tenderness which is felt in the front to the side/back (upper right quadrant tenderness). The incident at the massage parlor did not include exchange of fluids however the manual stimulation was unprotected. Chief concern here is the client before me and the possibility of contamination.
Three weeks after the incident, the URI subsided after tx. with antibiotics, however the liver tenderness persisted. I tested for trich, gon, syph, hcv and all tests came back negative.
54 days post possible exposure, I took a DNA PCR HIV test, an ELISA test, and HCV RNA PCR which both came back negative. My liver tenderness still persists and I am following up with ultrasound etc... I just find this quite a coincidence about with timing between incident and symptoms.
Here is my question: Can the DNA PCR HIV test and ELISA test of negative be considered conclusive by todays methods and standards at 54 days? From your clinical experience, what is the probability of retaking the test at 12 weeks and having a positive result based on my negative results at 54 days? Any other thoughts concerning my situation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I engaged in a low risk activity which included manual stimulation at a massage parlor. Two days later I experienced a URI and liver tenderness which is felt in the front to the side/back (upper right quadrant tenderness). The incident at the massage parlor did not include exchange of fluids however the manual stimulation was unprotected. Chief concern here is the client before me and the possibility of contamination.
Three weeks after the incident, the URI subsided after tx. with antibiotics, however the liver tenderness persisted. I tested for trich, gon, syph, hcv and all tests came back negative.
54 days post possible exposure, I took a DNA PCR HIV test, an ELISA test, and HCV RNA PCR which both came back negative. My liver tenderness still persists and I am following up with ultrasound etc... I just find this quite a coincidence about with timing between incident and symptoms.
Here is my question: Can the DNA PCR HIV test and ELISA test of negative be considered conclusive by todays methods and standards at 54 days? From your clinical experience, what is the probability of retaking the test at 12 weeks and having a positive result based on my negative results at 54 days? Any other thoughts concerning my situation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As you were told on the Hepatitis C and HIV community forums, it is not possible you caught HIV (or any bloodborne virus) from the exposure you describe. Your symptoms had nothing to do with those events. You did not need testing at all, but your test results indeed are conclusive and you do not need additional testing at 12 weeks or any other time. You need to let go of your anxiety-induced obsession with infections as a result of your massage parlor experience.
Here is a recent thread that explains in more detail why there was no risk. Read my closing comment (December 14): http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1119533
I won't respond to any follow-up discussion on this thread. There is nothing you can add that would change my opinions or advice.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Here is a recent thread that explains in more detail why there was no risk. Read my closing comment (December 14): http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1119533
I won't respond to any follow-up discussion on this thread. There is nothing you can add that would change my opinions or advice.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Thank you for your response and the reassurances.
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