Hepatitis B vaccine and HIV test results
i have a unprotected sex with a sex worker... ive been tested for hiv rapid test @ 4, 8 weeks it was negative.... a friend suggested also to test for hepatitis b also it was non reactive.... 2 weeks before my 12 week mark i have a 3 shot of hepatitis B vaccine.... my 12 week mark is negative....will hepatitis B vaccine affect the rapid anti body test? thanx
Hi there,
First of all I would like to say that activities and not people are of high risk for HIV transmission. The fact that you had sex with a sex worker is not high risk but rather engaging in unprotected sex is. Negative results at 4 & 8 weeks are a very strong indiction that you are infact HIV negative.
The Hepatitis B vaccine you had was developed to prevent Hep B infection. The vaccine is made up of one of the viral envelope proteins hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). After you have taken all 3 doses of this vaccine, your immune system develops an antibody to HBsAg in your bloodstream (called anti-HBsAg). This antibody and immune system memory then provide immunity to hepatitis B infection.
Your body is a great multi-tasker so IF you were infected with HIV, your body most likely would have started producing antibodies to fight an HIV infection after 21-25 days-- so that is why I say your negative test results at 4 and especially at 8 weeks are an EXTREMELY accurate indicator of your status. Also, the rapid test you took at 12 weeks would be looking for HIV antibodies (NOT Hep B antibodies or the Hep B virus itself) SO, yes, your results via Rapid Test at 12 weeks are definitive and conclusive.
Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any other questions or concerns,
All the best,
Monica
AIDS Vancouver Helpline Online
604.696.4666, Monday-Friday 9am-4pm
helpline@aidsvancouver.org
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