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What Does This HIV Test Report Indicate?

Posted on Thu, 4 May 2017

Question: hi i deep kissed a girl with unknown hiv status 21 days back and did an hiv test. the result hereby attached. can you please interpret this result for me? why is it 0.72?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your test is conclusively negative. No need for further test

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist and venereologist). I have gone through your query and I have viewed the attached report.

Your test is a latest 4th generation HIV screening test. Your test result is conclusively negative as it was performed beyond the window period (2-3 weeks) of screening test. There is no need for further testing.

The values given are the reference range of the test kit employed and any value below 0.90 is negative. Your value is 0.72 so that means you are negative.

The most important thing to understand here is that what was the risk level of exposure?and when was the test done in relation to the risky sexual encounter?

Kissing has negligible risk of HIV transmission unless there is exchange of blood mixed saliva which can only happen if sexual partner has oral sores/ ulcers.

As far as the timing of screening test is concerned in relation to risky sexual exposure, a 4th generation screening test done after 2-3 weeks is a reliable indicator of HIV status.

In other words, a window period of 2-3 weeks is crucial because a 4th generation HIV screening test performed too soon after a risky sexual encounter may give a falsely negative result.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (44 minutes later)

thank you for your answer. would you say kissing is a risk? what if there was bleeding, does it need to be profound bleeding? has there been cases where kissing transmitted hiv?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Kissing has negligible risk of hiv transmission

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Kissing is not a risk unless there are open sores/ulcers. Normally saliva is not conducive for HIV. Either there has to be some blood (does nt have to be profound bleeding) for the virus to survive in saliva and therefore for the saliva to be infectious Or if there are oral sores then there are more number of inflammatory cells at the affected site and hence a higher viral load available for transmission. There have been no reported cases of HIV transmission through kissing.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (18 hours later)

so there is a risk for me if there was a little blood? i am confused as on NHS they state that kissing is not a risk and on other sites such as medhelp or doctors like XXXXXXX Cummings state that kissing is not a risk and that it has to be profusely bleeding to be a theoretical risk. which is which? i do not know who to trust as each of you have a different point of view. should i be re testing in that case?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (23 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are safe

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

If there were no visible sores I think there is nothing to worry. Kissing has negligible risk if at all with pre-requisites that there should be either blood mixed saliva or open bleeding sores for HIV to pass through. I am unable to understand how would somebody kiss a person with profound oral bleeding. The point the author probably want to emphasize here is that kissing has a negligible risk under normal circumstances which is the same point which I too want to make. All in all you should feel safe. Although there is no need for a screening test, however, you can take a screening blood test for your own peace of mind.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (21 hours later)

so it has to be profound and open bleeding sores? what if there was a slight bleeding from gums? do both have to be bleeding?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Regarding possibility of HIV transmission during kissing

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

I think any amount of blood mixed with saliva of an HIV positive person would pose this risk of infection. Yes, only presence of a cut or a sore would facilitate infection during deep kissing otherwise kissing has negligible risk of HIV transmission through intact mucosa.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar