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Is HIV Test Conclusive 6 Months Post Exposure?
Posted on
Sat, 4 Jun 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 4 Jun 2016
Answered on
Mon, 4 Jul 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Dear dr,
I asked this question many times here but recently something new is freaking me out and i had to write and ask again.
I had possible exposure, protected oral and v sex with two escorts early october.
I had a rapid test at 4 weeks negative, i went to my gp ( im in london ) and took anothet test which i dont know the type and came back negative.
I moved on but later anxiety attacked me again and some joint and muscle pain made me do a self test at 7 months which was negative, at 8 months, more than 230 days later i took a rapid test in a private clinic which came back negative. I took a Duo test there again negative, next day i went to a NHS funded sexual health clinic and tested again which was Duo again and it was negative. I did full screen and i was clear from any STD.
I moved on but i read that there are documented cases people dont produce antibody and that its also possible people with pre-existing immunodeficiency take longner to show result.
So my question is that can i trust my tests and move on?
Duo test at 8 months might not be good since antigen cant be detected after two months of exposure even eariler and due to immunodeficeny or being one of those who dont produce antibody at all i tested negative.
I dont know if i have immunodefeciency, never been checked and i was born in middle east. Usually had white tongue and sometimes hard bump in soft part of my ears comes and goes. Dose it mean i have immunodeficency?
Please help me.
I asked this question many times here but recently something new is freaking me out and i had to write and ask again.
I had possible exposure, protected oral and v sex with two escorts early october.
I had a rapid test at 4 weeks negative, i went to my gp ( im in london ) and took anothet test which i dont know the type and came back negative.
I moved on but later anxiety attacked me again and some joint and muscle pain made me do a self test at 7 months which was negative, at 8 months, more than 230 days later i took a rapid test in a private clinic which came back negative. I took a Duo test there again negative, next day i went to a NHS funded sexual health clinic and tested again which was Duo again and it was negative. I did full screen and i was clear from any STD.
I moved on but i read that there are documented cases people dont produce antibody and that its also possible people with pre-existing immunodeficiency take longner to show result.
So my question is that can i trust my tests and move on?
Duo test at 8 months might not be good since antigen cant be detected after two months of exposure even eariler and due to immunodeficeny or being one of those who dont produce antibody at all i tested negative.
I dont know if i have immunodefeciency, never been checked and i was born in middle east. Usually had white tongue and sometimes hard bump in soft part of my ears comes and goes. Dose it mean i have immunodeficency?
Please help me.
Brief Answer:
You are free from HIV 1 and 2 infection. It is final.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
Congenital immune deficiency is a very rare condition. It can occur with one in a million people. you are 34 years old. If you have immune deficiency it would be obvious even in your childhood days by recurrent attacks of infection (very severe in nature), tuberculosis, unusual fungal diseases etc.
You are not on any drugs like steroids or anti cancer drugs (chemotherapy) or cyclosporin etc.
You had your HIV tests repeatedly non reactive even after 6 months. Even if we consider an individual is having immune deficiency, then also it would not have extended for the appearance of antibodies beyond 6 months.
Moreover you had protected exposure. So it is very much conclusive that you are free from HIV infection. Don't read odd things from on-line sources and get confused yourself.
Dr S.Murugan
You are free from HIV 1 and 2 infection. It is final.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
Congenital immune deficiency is a very rare condition. It can occur with one in a million people. you are 34 years old. If you have immune deficiency it would be obvious even in your childhood days by recurrent attacks of infection (very severe in nature), tuberculosis, unusual fungal diseases etc.
You are not on any drugs like steroids or anti cancer drugs (chemotherapy) or cyclosporin etc.
You had your HIV tests repeatedly non reactive even after 6 months. Even if we consider an individual is having immune deficiency, then also it would not have extended for the appearance of antibodies beyond 6 months.
Moreover you had protected exposure. So it is very much conclusive that you are free from HIV infection. Don't read odd things from on-line sources and get confused yourself.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much doctor,
It was very helpful and im trying so hard to move on but questions keep coming back.
If a 4th generation test of hiv is carried out at 8 months, can it not detect the Antigens which actully goes missinf only once the antibody appears?
Logically quantity of antigens should not decrease as antibodies did not appear and at this instance it should detect antigen if not the antibodies right?
Kindly advice what do you think of this
It was very helpful and im trying so hard to move on but questions keep coming back.
If a 4th generation test of hiv is carried out at 8 months, can it not detect the Antigens which actully goes missinf only once the antibody appears?
Logically quantity of antigens should not decrease as antibodies did not appear and at this instance it should detect antigen if not the antibodies right?
Kindly advice what do you think of this
Brief Answer:
Antibodies will be presnt in presence of infection even antigen disappears.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Yes you are correct.
4th generation Duo test comprises of two parts. Antigen detection for HIV 1 infection and Antibody detection for both HIV 1 and 2. Disappearance of P24 antigen from the circulation is possible after 6 months of infection. But antibody will persist. There are many other antigens present over and within the HIV virus other than P24 (GP 120, GP 41, P47 and others). Antibodies can be produced against not only to P24 but also to other antigens which are also can be detected by these tests.
So not to worry as there was no presence of HIV antibodies even after 6 months of risk activity. It ensures you that you are free from infection.
Dr S.Murugan
Antibodies will be presnt in presence of infection even antigen disappears.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Yes you are correct.
4th generation Duo test comprises of two parts. Antigen detection for HIV 1 infection and Antibody detection for both HIV 1 and 2. Disappearance of P24 antigen from the circulation is possible after 6 months of infection. But antibody will persist. There are many other antigens present over and within the HIV virus other than P24 (GP 120, GP 41, P47 and others). Antibodies can be produced against not only to P24 but also to other antigens which are also can be detected by these tests.
So not to worry as there was no presence of HIV antibodies even after 6 months of risk activity. It ensures you that you are free from infection.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Once again thank you very much dr.
As my last question, is it possible for an individual not to produce antibody at all in case of an hiv infection?
Dr, even in worst case scenarios do you consider my results conclusive and do you suggest i move on?
As my last question, is it possible for an individual not to produce antibody at all in case of an hiv infection?
Dr, even in worst case scenarios do you consider my results conclusive and do you suggest i move on?
Brief Answer:
Absence of antibody formation is not common in a normal individual
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Delayed antibody formation (delayed sero-conversion) is possible. But total absence of antibody formation is not possible unless if the individual's immune system(humeral, not cell mediated) is totally impaired as when the individual is in a totally collapsed state (just before death).
Dr S.Murugan
Absence of antibody formation is not common in a normal individual
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Delayed antibody formation (delayed sero-conversion) is possible. But total absence of antibody formation is not possible unless if the individual's immune system(humeral, not cell mediated) is totally impaired as when the individual is in a totally collapsed state (just before death).
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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