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HIV Testing

Submitted by Helpline Volunteer on Wed, 2008-09-03 17:44

Ask us questions about HIV Testing, testing locations and procedures by posting a new comment at the bottom of the page. These comments are moderated so they will not appear until someone from the Helpline has had a chance to review the posting. You should see your comment posted & a response within 24 hours.

Missed this Post from August 17th

Submitted by Heidi on Wed, 2010-09-01 20:28.

Hello, I've been paranoid all day about HIV testing. I've had Protected sex with all girls I was with but took the condom off to finish.

Most recent has been 3 weeks ago. I also had anal sex with a guy which he was wearing protection. But I got semen in my mouth. Mighta swallowed a bit and spit out the rest. I was tested for HIV at the end of July and had a blood test august 7th. HIV was nonreactive. What's my chances for getting HIV?

Response to Missed this post

Submitted by Heidi on Wed, 2010-09-01 20:38.

Hello there,

Please accept our apologies but we were doing some work on the back end of our website and this post disappeared. Sorry about that! Hopefully you found the information that you were looking for but here goes in any case:

The answer to your question depends on how long ago it was that you had unprotected sex. If you use a condom but then take it off to finish, that is still considered unprotected. I would be more concerned with that, than getting semen in my mouth.

If you tested negative past the 12 week mark, then you are not HIV positive. If you tested negative between 4 and 6 weeks, there is a 95% chance that you aren’t negative.

If you didn’t test past the 4 -12 week mark, then you will want to do that.

Please let us know if we can provide any further information. And thanks for using AIDS Vancouver as your source for HIV/AIDS related information.

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
Direct: 604-696-4666
helpline@aidsvancouver.org

Early HIV Test

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-09-01 05:22.

Hi,

I had Early HIV Test at H.I.M on day 9, after unprotected sex with a female. The test result was Negative. This was about 2 months ago. I was told that Early HIV Test can only detect virus after 10 days having risk sex. Should I do another HIV test? I am worry.

Thank you.

Response to Early HIV test

Submitted by Heidi on Wed, 2010-09-01 18:21.

Hello there,

Yes you should have another test. Here is something also, not just because you had the test at 9 days; because you should a-l-w-a-y-s have a follow up antibody test at 12 weeks after any Early test. This is because it is thought that the early test is about 90% accurate. Whereas the Antibody test is 99.9% accurate.

To deal with your worry at the moment; you can have a rapid test. Because what is true is that the Rapid antibody tests will detect 95% of infections between 4-6 weeks. So if you receive another negative result at this point, it is quite likely that it will remain negative at 12 weeks. Please help the good folks out at HIM with a donation for this service (if you are able).

I hope this helps, please let us know if we can provide anymore information. And thanks for using AIDS Vancouver as your source for HIV/AIDS related information.

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
Direct: 604.696.4666
helpline@aidsvancouver.org

78 days test

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-08-24 14:03.

Hi,

I have a hiv test done at 78 days after possible exposure.
Is that result a good news?
I have some symptoms for the last four weeks now. Fatigue, nausea, pharingitis...

Response to 78 days test

Submitted by Heidi on Thu, 2010-08-26 00:34.

Hello there,

Thanks for using AIDS Vancouver! I am going to assume that you got a negative result at 78 days. Yes that is good news. 95% of individuals will show detectable antibodies to HIV by 4 to 6 weeks and you were just shy of 12 weeks. Congratulations...now use condoms :)

Trust the test, see a doctor for the other things and use condoms each and every time you have intercourse!

Please let me know if we can direct you to any further information.

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
Direct: 604.696.4666

what could it be? + 3 weeks after exposure negative.

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2010-08-23 08:41.

hi, I am a young male 16 years of age and I had a unprotected encounter with a female of unknown HIV status in Pakistan ( country with 0.1 HIV prevalence) The whole encounter lasted about 3 to 2 minutes and it was vaginal intercourse and I did cum inside her. I am worried that I may have contracted HIV but also keeping in mind there wasn't any vaginal fluid on my penis after the encounter and I I have no cuts and scrapes. I am also circumcised so I hope that could have came to help? I got a immunochromatogrqphic assay done at 3 weeks post exposure and the test came out non reactive/negative and the doctor said that i have nothing to worry about. The thing is though after 4 weeks post exposure I have began to feel a mild burning sensation when urinating and it had lasted more then a day. I have no other symptoms and the anxiety is killing me. Could it be a UTI or a gonnorhea etc? some feed back would be helpful thank you.

Response to 3 weeks after possible exposure

Submitted by Heidi on Thu, 2010-08-26 00:29.

Thanks for using AIDS Vancouver as your source for HIV/AIDS related information.

Yes it is possible that you contracted Gonorrhea.

You should test again for HIV as most tests pick up an HIV infection by around the 4 week point. The way to know for sure is to be tested again.

Please let us know if we can direct you to any further information. And please protect yourself by using condoms!

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
Direct: 604-696-4666

hiv queries

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2010-08-22 15:08.

respected sir/madam,
under peer pressure i had normal vaginal sex with a call girl. it was my first time so i used 2 condoms but in my first go on ejaculation condoms slipped out. i withdrew immediately. after 12 hrs i got anti hiv 1 and 2 tested negative i also got hiv-pcr done.

what are chances i might contract hiv? i am really scared should i start taking pep?

Response to HIV queries

Submitted by Heidi on Thu, 2010-08-26 00:21.

Thanks for using AIDS Vancouver as your source for HIV/AIDS related information.

The chances that you might have HIV are very hard to say. The US Centre for Disease Control suggests that the odds of a Male contracting HIV from an HIV positive female is 5 out of 10,000. But that doesn't take all factors into account.

It is reassuring to know that you withdrew right away and it isn't likely that much time went by at all.

PEP must be started within 72 hours for it to be effective. It is definitely not something to be taken lightly and the decision needs to be made with a doctor.

It is essentially taking anti-HIV drugs for one month so you get all of the side effects that those drugs have. Currently the cost of those medications are not covered unless it was an Occupational accident or a sexual assault. It is roughly $1000 for the cost of these meds.

You can go and have another test and ask them to add "P24 antigen" to the test. The P24 antigen test can detect HIV early on. This is assuming that your experience was recent.

Please remember to put on a new condom after each ejaculation to save yourself the stress and anxiety of it slipping off. I hope that it all works out for you. Please let us know if we can direct you to any further information.

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
Direct: 604.696.4666

Three month mark hereby conclusive?

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2010-08-22 05:03.

Hi there,

I've noticed that the website for the BC Centre for Disease Control has new guidelines for HIV testing and Window periods, as of June 2010. These guidelines state that improvements made in HIV tests have reduced the Window period and they now estimate that "greater than 99%" of infected people will seroconvert within three months. In recognition of this, the BC Medical Journal has published these revised guidelines in the July/August edition (which can be read online on their website). Does this mean that the 3 month mark is truly conclusive nowadays for HIV testing?

Thanks for your advice.

Response to Three month mark hereby conclusive?

Submitted by Heidi on Wed, 2010-08-25 23:57.

Hello there,

Thanks for using AIDS Vancouver as your source for HIV/AIDS related information. I apologize for the delay in response (I've been catching up from being away).

The BCCDC is not the only organization that accepts three months. We here at AIDS Vancouver tend to trust the reality of what is happening in the world of HIV (versus what is possible in theory). However some organizations tend to favor a conservative estimate.

We feel that 3 month testing is truly conclusive, given the reality of testing today. This is based on information, not only from the BCCDC but other organizations that are truly in touch with what is really happening with testing.

This is good news! I'm glad you asked. This information makes our jobs easier :)

Please let me know if we can direct you to any further information.

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
Direct: 604.696.4666

Hi Heidi, Just to follow up

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2010-08-27 04:32.

Hi Heidi,

Just to follow up in case other helpline readers want to see them, here are the links for the revised window period information on the BC Centre of Disease Control website:

http://www.bccdc.ca/NR/rdonlyres/2982E293-BD82-436D-B193-F929B5CEEBEC/0/...

This report is intended for Health Care professionals, but it is useful for non-professionals since it states recent estimates for the HIV window period for testing done in British Columbia. The report also gives a current overview of HIV testing procedures.

The July/August 2010 edition of the BC Medical Journal has published the BC Centre of Disease Control's June report, and the article can be read here:

http://www.bcmj.org/don%E2%80%99t-wait-test-hiv

Good Point

Submitted by Heidi on Mon, 2010-08-30 19:20.

Thanks for that!

Is testing out to 6 months post exposure recommended?

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-08-05 09:34.

I'm a bit confused about conflicting reports on the accuracy HIV tests 3 months post exposure. The other month I read you state HIV tests at 3 months post exposure are 99.9% accurate and in one of your more recent reply's you stated they're 97% accurate. I know the US CDC goes off them being 97% accurate at three months post exposure.

I know symptoms are notoriously unreliable for predicting HIV status but at the same time I think they're something that shouldn't be ignored and that should be factored into the equation at least to some degree. If I had a negative HIV test result at 3 months post exposure and I felt fine I'd be ALOT more content with my negative result.

I experienced a sickness unlike any other I've ever experienced not long after unprotected sex some of my symptoms were extreme fatigue, neck lymph node pain, loss of appetite, peripheral neuropathy, malaise, a rash, night sweats, oral hairy leukoplakia which I have naturally got significantly worse and more noticeable, diarrhea, fever, this skin condition called seborrhea which I have naturally as well got severely inflamed.

To this day almost 4 months later I'm still experiencing skin issues as in more pimples and whiteheads, my seborrhea is still inflamed although not to the degree it was soon after my exposure. I'm still experiencing a very significant loss of appetite(not feeling hungry) as well as pain, tingling and weakness in my feet ankles and legs and to a lesser degree sensitivity in my finger tips. I'm having some fatigue as well.

Sorry if I'm giving too much information but I think my symptoms relevant to some degree. I was relatively healthy before engaging in unprotected sex almost four months ago. I'm in Alberta and the HIV Hotline here recommends testing out to 6 months do you agree with them especially given my symptoms?

Response to testing at 6 months

Submitted by Heidi on Fri, 2010-08-06 22:42.

Edited Aug/25/10: The BC Centre for Disease Control recently published new guidelines saying that 99% of people will sero-convert within 3 months (become infected).

Hello there,

Thank you for using AIDS Vancouver as your source for HIV/AIDS related information.

The numbers you are reading are different because they are separate issues.

The window period is the amount of time it takes for antibodies to develop in response to an HIV infection. The number coming out of Health Canada for people that will test conclusively at 3 months is 97% (so almost everybody).

But this doesn't have anything to do with how accurate a test is. Accuracy deals with how many people are correctly diagnosed by a test. So the antibody test gives an accurate result 99.9% of the time.

I hope this helps to clear that up :0)

As for your symptoms, I can understand how you wouldn't be feeling good about the negative result at 3 months. However, there is a 97% chance that you don't have HIV.

You can test again at 6 months, sure. Symptoms just aren't that conclusive so maybe while you ride the 6 months out, you can try other avenue's to figure out why you have been sick. Are there other explanations? What does the doctor tell you? Has anything that they have given you helped?

You may wish to consider seeking some professional help to get you through to the 6 months. I know that is a long time.

I wish I could give you an easy answer...

What we do know though (not that you don't) is that using a condom will save your mind, body and soul a whole heap of stress. I sincerely hope that you get through this ok and at 6 months, you are still negative (which is the result I suspect you will receive).

Please take good care of yourself and let us know if we can provide any further information.

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver
Direct: 604.696.4666
helpline@aidsvancouver.org

Please help

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-08-04 11:04.

I haven't had sex in probably close to 6 months now, I donated blood four months ago, about one week ago I noticed a couple white bumbs on the shaft of my penis. One was big enough like a zit so I popped it. And I still have them. I tried to look this up online found something about bad hygiene. I noticed it after I didn't take a shower one weekend but now I can't get rid of them what the hell are they please help!

I'm to nervous to go see a doctor

Response to Please help

Submitted by Heidi on Thu, 2010-08-05 17:59.

Hello there,

Thanks for using AIDS Vancouver as your source for HIV/AIDS related information.

Did you have unprotected sex 6 months ago? If so, you should go and get an HIV test.

As much as it can be scary and un-nerving to go to a doctor about these kinds of things; you won't know until you do. Maybe another STI? Ingrown hairs potentially...

Here is a link to some information on some common sexually transmitted infections:
http://www.avert.org/std.htm

They even have pictures which you may or may not wish to view (at your own discretion). Some are pretty graphic but speaks to the reality of STI's.

It might help if you go to a Sexual health clinic, they are rather non-judgmental. But also, doctors have seen it all and they shouldn't judge you either. Here is a link to testing sites in the Vancouver/Lower Mainland area:
http://www.aidsvancouver.org/info/testing/testsites

I hope this helps but please let us know if we can direct you to any further information.

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
Direct: 604-696-4666

Dead worried

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2010-07-29 20:21.

Hi,

No need for so much words. I have been through a lot after unprotected vaginal sex with a girl. Now 6,9,12 and 14weeks are my negative HIV test results....am I in the clear whatever the risk? Do I need further test assuming she was positive? Thanks.

Response to Dead Worried

Submitted by Heidi on Tue, 2010-08-03 21:20.

Hello there,

I'll get right to the point then! 97% of infections are detectable by 3 months. 3% of infections take up to 6 months. There is a 97% chance that you are HIV negative; that is good!

Proper condom use can reduce the risk significantly and the anxiety that people experience while they wait for window periods/test results. If you need support with anxiety and worry, you may wish to consult a therapist.

I hope that people are playing it safe out there. Everyday, I see the impact that unsafe play has on the mind, body and spirit of people in turmoil over risk exposures.

Hopefully it will get to the point where people are reducing their risks. Think of how much stress you can save yourself by putting a condom on.

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
Direct: 604-696-4666
helpline@aidsvancouver.org

Worried about blood transmitted during Hand job

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2010-07-25 06:36.

Hi, I received a hand job after an oil body massage during my business trip in a hotel in Indonesia.
I am certain that there was no intercourse, oral, kissing or genital-genital contact.
My only fear is I usually have abrasions/small cuts on the left side of my penis (this happens because of tight boxers/pants as the skin is thin) and I worry that there may be cuts/blood on the masseur's hands/fingers and it may have entered into my abrasion/cuts on my penis.
I did not pay attention to her hands at all nor did I pay attention to myself.

I did the following tests,
- Combined Antibody and Antigen test at 21 days
- HIV DNA PCR test at 23 days
- Antibody test at 6 weeks

These are negative. I seek opinions from 2 docs. Doc 1 who did my DNA PCR said I am fine and should move on.
However Doc 2 said it may take up to 28 days for RNA to turn to DNA so he advised a second DNA PCR test and I did it at 6 weeks.

I am so fearful now. Will a negative DNA PCR test result at 23 days turn positive at 28 days?

Now I have some itch on my penis and slight pain on my urethra and I wonder if it has to do with HIV symptoms

Response to Worried about blood transmission during Hand job

Submitted by Heidi on Mon, 2010-07-26 22:03.

Thank you for using AIDS Vancouver helpline online, as your source for HIV related information.

I feel frustrated that the 2nd doctor would respond that way. While that might be scientifically true, we are just NOT seeing transmission of HIV occur in this way. You have not had a risk experience. In my estimation, you have tested more than you actually needed to.

I hope this will help you move on! But please let us know if we can direct you to any further information. Or you can call our Helpline and speak to someone directly.

Wishing you good health,
Heidi
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
Helpline direct: 604.696.4666

Admin moved this comment to keep it in the original thread

Submitted by Heidi on Sun, 2010-08-01 06:07.

Hi Heidi, thanks for the advice. My second DNA PCR test is negative. My doc 2 explained the reason why he advised a second DNA test at 6 weeks is because usually oral sex may come together with hand job and I may not realized it.

Question for you: Assuming there was some small contact of Mouth-to-Penis. I am certain there was no full oral sex because midway of the hand job, the masseur was next to me and I shot out rather than into any enclosed area like the mouth.

Please advise if I am at risk and do I require any more test? Thanks.

Response

Submitted by Heidi on Sun, 2010-08-01 06:09.

No dear, you are not at risk and no further testing is required.

Please take good care of yourself :)

Risk of Handjob/Oral Sex received

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-08-03 02:08.

Hi Heidi, the comments from the second doctor really worry me. Sorry for being a pain but I remember clearly she was in a sit-up position on my left side when she started the hand job. It was very dark/dim and my eyes were closed at most times. I remember she used her fingers on my scrotum followed by attempting make me half erect. I asked if I can touch her. She lie on my left side and I remember my arm and hand was on her back. I touched her back/neck/ear/waist. She was fully clothed and she wore underwear because I felt it. Then I ejaculated and I am certain that it was to the open followed by a towel and not into any enclosed area/mouth because she commented that I shot at her skirt. She washed her hands and returned to give me a head massage before I took my shower. I don't remember feeling her head at my groin area and neither do I know if she masturbated herself prior to giving me a hand job because the setting was dark and my eyes were closed. Assuming what the second doctor said was true that there may be some mouth-to-penis contact during the first half of the hand job when she was sitting up, and bearing in mind that I usually have abrasions/small cuts on my penis, and I didn't notice her hands for cuts/blood, and I do not know if she masturbated herself prior to giving me a hand job, am I at risk of HIV? If DNA PCR test at 6 weeks conclusive? I came across a lot of sites including ewiki that says that food like mushrooms inhibit virus. I take supplements regularly and in particular Ganoderma (linzhi) and when this happened, I took a lot more dosage (like 9gm) each day. Does this supplement has the same effect as PEP? What should I do? Please advise. Thanks.

Handjob / Oral / 2nd DNA PCR

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2010-08-01 11:23.

Hi Heidi, thanks a lot for your words. Actually I was moving on until Doctor 2 mentioned about the possibility of Oral Sex received. This really scares me because I really thought no oral sex was received until he mentioned that I may not have noticed it.

Seriously is there any risk with Receiving Oral Sex assuming it really did happen? and Is DNA PCR test conclusive at 6 weeks? Is there any supplements/diets that may affect test results? I read from ewiki that mushrooms inhibit virus - I worry that the supplements I take (which contain reishi mushrooms) will affect my results.
Thanks again for explaining to me.

Response to Hand Job/Oral 2nd DNA PCR test

Submitted by Heidi on Tue, 2010-08-03 21:10.

Hello again,

With all due respect to the doctor; you were there, he or she wasn't. You know what happened from what you are describing.

But even if oral sex did happen to occur (which it doesn't sound likely at all), it is not a risky activity. Did you know that there are actually enzymes in saliva that break HIV down? It's true.

There has been a lot of debate around the level of risk associated with Oral sex. There just isn't enough scientific evidence that it is an effective route of transmission. We are not seeing HIV infections happen in this way. Please hear me on this!

A DNA PCR test will detect the virus itself (rather than antibodies) within 3-4 weeks.

PEP involves anti-retroviral medication (HIV meds) for one month. So no, it is highly unlikely that your supplement would have the same effect. And I am not aware of any supplements/diets that would affect test results.

If you are not able to let go of this; it might be useful to seek the help of a therapist.

Handjob risk

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2010-08-04 10:43.

Heidi, I met up with the masseur. She confirmed that there was no oral given. It was hand job and the touching I described in previous post.

She showed me her medical report done 3 weeks post my exposure. It was negative for STDs and HIV.

She was willing to go for another blood test and this is 2 months post my exposure and I went with her together with her manager to the lab. The manager will collect the results by tomorrow. This is Elisa + CD4 test.

I am down with the only fear that fresh blood was present during the hand job and I may have my small cuts/abrasions that is active on my penis.

Btw, I have eczema on my backside which sometimes bleeds/raw skin and she did massage my backside during the full body massage time.
With this fear/assumption taken, honestly am I at risk?

Response to hand job risk

Submitted by Heidi on Thu, 2010-08-05 17:46.

Wow, you've really gone the extra mile. I'll say that for you!

What makes you think that there was blood present? What might help you to know is that it would take quite a lot of blood and you would literally need to soak your penis or any cut/open sore in that blood. And that is assuming it was infected blood.

I'm actually quite surprised that she indulged you to the extent that she did.

I don't believe that you were ever at risk! Please seek help from a therapist if you can't let it go. Please hear me on this: I can't help you any further here. But I do wish you all the best and I mean that sincerely.

Take good care,
Heidi

Unprotected Oral and PCR testing site?

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2010-07-20 03:26.

Hi.

Approximately three weeks ago I performed oral sex on another male of unknown status after he had ejaculated into a condom, so there was the likely oral exposure to his ejaculate. I generally have significant anxiety and can't stop worrying about the possibility of exposure to HIV. Now I've developed a sore throat which I've had for a few days that has me worried that it may be sero sickness.

Is there a statistical risk associated with this?

I'm terrified (truly) of getting an HIV test but realize this is the only way to know for sure. Unfortunately I am moving out of province soon to a smaller location with uncertain testing facilities and would like to know ASAP. Is there anywhere in Vancouver's downtown area that I can receive a PCR test? I've heard that it's reliable after 3 weeks of exposure. Please help.

- Anxious

HIV Testing

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