Are Sore Throat And Headache Signs Of STD Infection?

Posted on Sun, 4 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 4 Oct 2015 Answered on

Mon, 26 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi Doctor,

I had unprotected sex about three weeks ago and have been experiencing a sore throat and headache (no fever though) I took a PCR RNA test at 17 days post exposure and received the results today-- negative. How reliable is this at 17 days? I plan on taking an ELISA test at 6 weeks to be sure

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is more than 99% accurate

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
After 2 weeks, OCR test is more than 99% accurate and false negative results are extreme rarity so you dont need to be worried. You can do ELISA for your own satisfaction, nut these symptoms are nonspecific and common for any resipratory infection and HIV is the last thing to think of. Wish you good health. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar