Dear Drs,

I have been at your clinic 3 weeks ago and was seen by Doctor Jose who was really nice and gave me already great comfort before the results of my DUO test turned out to be negative. This test was exactly 7 weeks after my exposure in Indonesia where the condom broke while having anal sex with a hotel masseuse.

The unprotected sex lasted only a minute at maximum and I convinced the girl to get tested together with me 2 days after the encounter: both negative. I guess that was a simple antibody test.

I am actually based in China where I did two further AB tests after 4 and 6 weeks before traveling to London and doing this 7 weeks DUO test with Dr Jose.

Dr Jose told me that this test is 100 percent final, but now I am having some symptoms again and the fear is back.

I am back in China now and for a week or so I am suffering from a weird neck pain (in the front) that always appears in the evening. And for a few days now I have an on and off sore throat and I discovered 2 small soft lumps on the right side of my neck which sometimes cause pain. My right groin hurts too.

Obviously I am concerned that these swollen lymph nodes are connected to my unprotected encounter which is now 10 weeks ago.

Would you still consider the 7 weeks DUO negative as final?

Thanks so much for your help!

[Dr Sean]

Hello

Thanks for the post.

I understand the reason for the question and the ongoing concern. I think though, as Jose has said, that your test is good, final and conclusive.

We don't take the tests out of context - in fact the context of the original episode and the circumstances is very important in deciding what test and what testing interval is appropriate.

For you, the facts as you give them are:-

1) very brief unprotected penetrative sex with you as the insertive partner

2) you and the lady in question tested negative for HIV shortly after the event

3) you did a further two tests - and both were negative

4) you had a final test with Jose which tested for HIV 1 and 2 and also p24 antigen.

We know that even using 3rd generation antibody only tests at 6 weeks we get better than 99% accuracy at that point.

For you, all the evidence points to an exposure with someone who was HIV negative at the time and that the multiple subsequent tests have established that you have not acquired HIV.

So yes, I would consider the HIV DUO to be final and accurate.

I hope thats helpful?

best wshes, Sean