I recently had an exposure to HIV, I think. I am a guy and it was with a guy who told me that he had had an HIV positive partner in the past. Although he said that he had tested negative for HIV, I don not know whether he tested at the right time to determine his status and so I have to assume the worst.
Therefore, I tested for HIV, Syphilis and Hep B all together using one blood sample (the doctor took one tube of blood and said that it could be used for all 3 of the tests - does this sound normal and right?)
The test was done at 25 days post contact although I knew that I needed to wait 28 days. This is because my anxiety levels were so high. I couldn't wait any longer. I have read that for HIV antibodies to HIV aren't detectable until ages after infection and so the antibody component to the test wasn't likely to pick up any infection after 25 days. But I have read that antigens to HIV form after a few days and I am wondering if it because testing equipment isn't sensitive enough to pick these up until weeks after infection that the test is administered 28 days post contact, or if this is in fact because antigens to HIV don't appear until weeks after infection similar to antibodies (and that my information on antigens is incorrect)?
If I am right about antigens, then why don't people get tested for HIV using the antigen test as little as a few days post contact?
in any case, in your opinion and considering that I am due to see my regular partner in about 2 weeks whom I do not want to pass any infections onto - do I need to test again for HIV having already tested but 3 days before the recommended window period?
Also, do you think that the syphilis and Hep B results can be considered conclusive? Or were these tests done too early as well to determine an accurate result and enable me to see my partner?
Hello,
Thank you for your post. I will reply to your questions here below:
Therefore, I tested for HIV, Syphilis and Hep B all together using one blood sample (the doctor took one tube of blood and said that it could be used for all 3 of the tests - does this sound normal and right?) Yes, it is correct. You only need only blood bottle for all three tests.
The test was done at 25 days post contact although I knew that I needed to wait 28 days. This is because my anxiety levels were so high. I couldn't wait any longer. I have read that for HIV antibodies to HIV aren't detectable until ages after infection and so the antibody component to the test wasn't likely to pick up any infection after 25 days. But I have read that antigens to HIV form after a few days and I am wondering if it because testing equipment isn't sensitive enough to pick these up until weeks after infection that the test is administered 28 days post contact, or if this is in fact because antigens to HIV don't appear until weeks after infection similar to antibodies (and that my information on antigens is incorrect)? The p24 antigen is already detectable at 14 days post-exposure, reaching highest levels at 28 days. A negative result at 25 days can be considered highly reliable and conclusive; little statistical differece between 25 and 28 days.
If I am right about antigens, then why don't people get tested for HIV using the antigen test as little as a few days post contact? I replied to your answer before
in any case, in your opinion and considering that I am due to see my regular partner in about 2 weeks whom I do not want to pass any infections onto - do I need to test again for HIV having already tested but 3 days before the recommended window period? No, I do not believe so. You are negative.
Also, do you think that the syphilis and Hep B results can be considered conclusive? Or were these tests done too early as well to determine an accurate result and enable me to see my partner? With these, the same would apply as with HIV. Therefore thay can be considered highly reliable at 25 days without the need for you to have any further tests.
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