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Is HIV Test Post 10 Weeks Of Possible Exposure Conclusive?

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Posted on Fri, 28 Aug 2015
Question: Hi Doc,
I am a male who had unprotected vaginal sex 10 weeks ago 10 min that night 2 min I preformed oral and about 5 min vaginal again the next morning (May 30) on 6-7 July I had two nights of flu-like symptoms with night sweats after which everything ceased during this time i also had unprotected sex with my GF, all was well until week 8 when she caught fever for two days at week 9 we both experience muscle aches in calfs, thighs, both shoulders and I had stiff neck, we both have joint pains in knees as well itching all over pluss loss of appetite, she complains of seeing a white light in her right eye and sometimes pain behind her eye socket, we both have two or three bumps in the face, I finally got the nerves to do a rapid oraquick home swab test on Wednesday August 5th (9.5 weeks after encounter) followed instructions to the letter (I just knew it would be positive as my Gf and I have had every symptom on the list and they mirror each other, well the results were negative with good control line, this morning 7 Aug I now have a clogged throat (it could be due to excessive smoking because my nerves are shot), brown spots on the sole of my left foot also had a temp of 97.7 my questions for you are 1) Is it possible that reinfection from my GF has occurred causing late ARS symptoms at weeks 9 and 10? 2) could this same reinfection cause my antibodies to still be undetectable after almost 10 weeks of high risk encounter? Please help Doc this is totally killing me
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Antigen based test rule out or confirm HIV by 4 weeks after exposure

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM
Thanks for posting your query.

Fever and throat infection are common problems and can occur to anybody without HIV.
Earliest symptoms for HIV can occur only by 3-4 weeks after the risk contact in the presence of an infection. If there was any symptoms prior to 3 weeks they were unlikely due to HIV.The Oraquick test will be positive by 6-8 weeks but more conclusive after 12 weeks.The only way to confirm or rule out HIV during window period is going for Antigen test (HIV PCR or P24 antigen test or 4th generation DUO test) which could be conclusive by 4 weeks after high risk contact.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (4 hours later)
Understood Doc but what about my question about reinfection (if I infected my girlfriend) causing later ARS/seroconversion windows? And I will retest oraquick at 12 weeks but my first test at 9.5 weeks (neg) is that a good indicator that my 12 week test will be (neg) since my 9.5 week test is past the 6-8 week window although I'm still experiencing symptoms

Thanks for all your help Doc
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Oraquick 9 weeks after the exposure is reliable to maximum extent

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM back.

Majority would become reactive within 8 weeks in the presence of an infection, whereas very few only take 12 weeks to appear a delayed antibodies against HIV, in the presence of an infection. So your negative Oraquick 9 weeks after the high risk contact is almost reliable to a maximum extent.

When you had no HIV infection, then your girl friend is unlikely to get infected from you (If she sticks to a monogamous relationship). Then there is no question of re-infection from your girl friend to you. So there would not be any late infection expected to be revealed at a later date. Don't imagine odd possibilities. Everything would be revealed by this time with an Antigen based test.
Dr S.Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan

HIV AIDS Specialist

Practicing since :1974

Answered : 3112 Questions

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Is HIV Test Post 10 Weeks Of Possible Exposure Conclusive?

Brief Answer: Antigen based test rule out or confirm HIV by 4 weeks after exposure Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome to HCM Thanks for posting your query. Fever and throat infection are common problems and can occur to anybody without HIV. Earliest symptoms for HIV can occur only by 3-4 weeks after the risk contact in the presence of an infection. If there was any symptoms prior to 3 weeks they were unlikely due to HIV.The Oraquick test will be positive by 6-8 weeks but more conclusive after 12 weeks.The only way to confirm or rule out HIV during window period is going for Antigen test (HIV PCR or P24 antigen test or 4th generation DUO test) which could be conclusive by 4 weeks after high risk contact. Dr S.Murugan