Should I Be Worried About HIV Having Intercouse With Unkown ?
my second question. i have done the home test many times and it always come 1 line at C, never had 2 lines. but this was first time i use a test and i see that it become positive for someone. another thing ( i did combo hiv test antigen and antibody after that night and it shows non reactive ) so i am sure i am negative before he fucked me. but now i am so scared. please i need ur opinion
Your HIV risk is almost 'NIL'
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query.
Fortunately you had taken post exposure prophylaxis. PEP has to be started before 72 hours. You started PEP 35 hours after the exposure. So if the organism (HIV virus) entered into your body, the infection would have been aborted and you are free from HIV infection.
You had not mentioned:
1. When was your encounter with that Sudanese?
2. Had you completed the course of PEP? If so how many days? Combination of drugs?
3. The HIV tests done during the window period can not be reliable? How many days gone after your exposure and how many days after the exposure, you had your test?
Anyhow as you had PEP your HIV risk is almost "NIL"
Dr S. Murugan
The medication are 2 drugs ( truvada once day and isentress twice a day evey 12 hours ) for 28 day and I take it exactly at regular times ( i take truvada and isentress together at 5:30 am and sexond dose of isentress at 3:40 pm )
Now i am using PEP for 5 days and I will continue till day 28 after exposure
Today is day 5 after exposure.
I had a combo test ( antigen and anybody 24 hours after the sexual encounter and before i started PEP and it was Non reactive ( i provide a picture for the test from a certified lab )
My question is can i do an HIv test now ? What is the soonest time ? I am scared to get an HIV .. can I do PCR now ? I want to relax. I dont want to wait for a month to do the test. Any reliable test to be done.
Another issue regarding the home HIV kit.
I hve bought many HIV test for myself for the last 2 years and i have used more than 20 tests and it never showed positive ( only 1 line after 15 min of the test )
But this was forst time I saw by my naked eye for someone getting test by same kit and it showed 2 lines. Can ig be wrong ? Or it is very accurate ? FYI : the kit is. Ot expired and i did same test and it showed for me that i am negative but him was positive ( it showed 2 lines for his test within 2 min after the test that we did not have to wait 15 min ) could it be weing and we had to wait 15 min? Or as ling as it showed 2 lines in 2 min that mean hw is strongly positive?
Another thinking of me : can the test accidentally be positive if the patient had hepatitis c or b ? I mean cross reactivity ?
Please answer my all questions if you dont mind
Complete the course of PEP. You are safe.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
All the tests available in the market are highly reliable up to the extent of 97-98%. The HIV combo test is reliable up to the extent of 99% and above. But it will be conclusive after 4 weeks, not earlier, whereas PCR may be conclusive by third week for HIV 1 infection. If you want to rule out HIV 2 infection (very rare) you have to wait up to 12 weeks.
Your PEP is apt and complete the course correctly. You have to follow up with the tests 4 weeks, 3 months and up to 6 months.
You are safe as you are already on PEP.
Dr S.Murugan
Not to worry about the missing tablets
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back,
Initially the PEP was Tiruvada (Tenofovir + Emtricitabin) alone. Few years back only PEP was modified to three drugs (Tiruvada+ Isentress (INSTI). When it was Tiruvada alone also almost all the individuals were doing well.
So not to worry, Ignore the missing tablets. Medicine is not mathematics to constant answer. 28 days is just an assessment. not a rule.
Another thing is, when you bought a container of these tablets, it will be packed for 30 days (Monthly pack) not for 28 days?
So not to bother.
Dr S. Murugan
I was worried if that pill will make a difference
I mean the soonest that give me a hint.
To get confirmative result go ahead with the test 4 weeks after exposure
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Not to worry for missing a dose.
To get a reliable and conclusive report better have the DNA HIV PCR ( or RNA qualitative PCR) test after completion of your PEP, that is after 4 weeks.
Dr S. Murugan
HIV 1 infection can be ruled out by 4 weeks after the exposure.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Yes, you are correct.
You can go with either HIV 4th generation test or HIV PCR test. Both are highly reliable.
But one more thing is, both can rule out HIV 1 infection by 4 weeks (Commonest more than 99%) whereas HIV 2 infection( less than 0.5% in countries other than certain parts of Africa), can be ruled out by 4th generation test more conclusively 12 weeks after the exposure.
DR S. Murugan
So u saud i can do 4th generation test at 4 weeks after the exposure so meaning that right away after i finish the course of PEP. My question is would PEP affect the result and delay the appearance of the test to become positive
In other way because of PEP , the antigen of the virus wont develop after 4 weeks from the exposure. And it takes more time than normal? Is this right or i am wrong?
A negative 4th generation HIV test is reliable after 4 weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
The presence of Antigen is reflecting the presence of virus. 4th generation HIV Combo test detects the P24 antigen. If there is infection, it may reflect,whereas the development of antibodies can be delayed because of PEP. As per PEP protocol, the individual has to be followed for 6 months with tests. Only with a negative test, 6 months after the exposure one can be declared that the individual is free from HIV Infection.
Dr S Murugan
Recent guidelines declared that testing HIV, 6 months after not necessary
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Yes, it is better to follow the protocol recommended for PEP. Test for HIV at the 0 day, 4 weeks, 12 weeks and feel free afterwards, even though, such chances of becoming are remote.
Sequential HIV testing should be obtained at baseline, week 4 and week 12 post-exposure.
o If at any time the HIV test result is positive, an FDA-approved confirmatory assay must be performed.
o A negative HIV test result at 12 weeks post‐exposure reasonably excludes HIV infection related to the
exposure; testing at six months post‐exposure is no longer recommended.
o If the exposed person presents with signs or symptoms of acute HIV seroconversion, an HIV serologic
screening test should be used in conjunction with a plasma HIV RNA assay to diagnose acute HIV infection. A
4th-generation HIV antigen/antibody combination test is the recommended serologic screening test.
Immediate consultation with a clinician experienced in managing ART should be sought for optimal treatment
options. (https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/pep/docs/followup.pdf)
Dr S. Murugan
Protocols to be followed as per the guidelines to get maximum assurance
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
HIV PCR tests can detect or rule out HIV 1 only and you need a separate qualitative PCR test to rule out HIV 2 even though it is a very rare possibility.
Moreover guidelines and protocols are designed by experts after great consultations and considerations.
So get assured that you are HIV free after 3 months with 4th generation HIV combo test.
Dr S. Murugan
If i did pcr hiv after 7 days from finishing PEP and it is negative, is not that enough?
Window period for HIV 1&2 can be delayed up to 12 weeks after the exposure
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
welcome back.
PCR can detect HIV as early as a week after exposure, But the result will be more conclusive after 3-4 weeks after exposure as some will have a delay in reactivity. Moreover PCR cannot detect HIV 2 unless you request for another separate HIV 2 PCR which is rare and the test is available with few laboratories only.
Whereas antibody detection HIV tests can detect both HIV 1 and 2. Even though antibodies against HIV in the presence of an infection, can occur between 4- 8 weeks after the exposure, may be delayed with certain individuals up to 12 weeks after the exposure, So it will be more conclusive only after 12 weeks.
Regarding the Combo test (4th generation) test, the antigen part of the test which can detect the P24 antigen of HIV 1 only not HIV 2 whereas the antibody detection part can detect both HIV 1 and 2. once again the antibody detection will be more confirmative after 12 weeks after the exposure.
I hope you understand the situation. on these basis only the PEP protocol is being designed.
Then it is up to you to decide which test you preferred and how many days after the exposure.
Dr S. Murugan
As per PEP guidelines HIV status will be definite 3 months after exposure
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
There is no study that I had come across to say that either PCR or 4th generation HIV test is reliable 2 days after the completion of PEP as far as HIV is concerned. As per the PEP guidelines one can be declared that he/she is free from HIV after 3 months.
Dr S. Murugan
Unlikely to become reactive for HIV after completion of PEP
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Very much unlikely after the completion of PEP as you had started PEP well ahead 72 hours after the exposure.
Dr S.Murugan
consult a microbiologist
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Guidelines are not saying so.
Moreover separate HIV PCR is needed for HIV 1 and 2. By doing HIV PCR, 9 days after the completion of PEP, you may have ruled out HIV 1 only. That too I can't give any guarantee.
If you want more clarification you can approach a microbiologist.
I can say what the guidelines indicated and what I had come across. Other than this, I cannot give any conclusive remarks.
Dr S. Murugan