QUERY ON HIV TEST
I had sex with a colleague three months before with a condom.
She sucked my nipples and I had a cut in the mouth and we kissed each other ....her status is unknown... I tested myself with ELISA yesterday, exactly 11 weeks approx after exposure and i am negative...
i have also given my PCR test today .. i am really scared because even though my ELISA is negative, it's showing antibodies to the level 0.74 .... how to proceed with it.. am i vulnerable as the antibody count is high?
Hi there & thank-you for using AIDS Vancouver as your source of HIV/AIDS related information.
Protected sex with anyone is considered low risk. This is because if the condom did not slip off, break or fail in some way then there is really no way for HIV to get through latex- no way, no how.
Sucking on nipples and kissing is no risk for HIV transmission- this is because saliva cannot transmit HIV. HIV transmission through open cuts and sores is only a theory- there have been no documented cases of this except for a very bloody knife fight which involved a lot of blood and open, gushing, bleeding wounds. If the cut in your mouth was not openly bleeding and did not come into contact with her blood, vaginal fluids or breast milk then there is no risk of HIV transmission through kissing.
As for your test results, a negative is a negative. The index values that you may obtain from your test results do not indicate the level of HIV antibodies in your blood (which is what the test is looking for). The index value, sometimes also called the "signal-to-cutoff ratio," is a technical term related to type of HIV-antibody test that is conducted. Values less than 0.90, like yours, are definitively negative. Values between 0.9 and 1.0 would be borderline reactive. And values above 1.0 would be preliminarily positive. These preliminarily positive (or provisionally reactive) tests require a confirmatory test before someone is told they are HIV positive. It does not matter how close the index reading was to 0.9 as that does not idicate that you are more or less likely to test positive at a later date. At the end of the day, a negative is a negative. These results are conclusive if you tested at or 3 months after the activity you are concerned about.
I hope that helps address your questions & if not, please do not hesitate to ask,
All the best,
Monica
AIDS Vancouver Helpline
604.696.4666, Monday-Friday 9am-4pm
helpline@aidsvancouver.org
Disclaimer
The AIDS Vancouver Helpline is a volunteer-driven information, referral and support service related to HIV and sexual health. Volunteers are trained in active listening, HIV and sexual health information, and local resources and services. Volunteers are not doctors, nurses, or other licensed professionals. Volunteers do not give advice, and strive to provide service-users with adequate information and appropriate referrals.
Helpline volunteers uphold the agency’s confidentiality and privacy policies. Your calls, forum posts, and emails are anonymous. We welcome you to use a pseudonym or “fake name” when using Helpline services. We will not ask for or track your personal information. To ensure that the Helpline program is providing quality services, the Helpline Coordinator regularly monitors online content (forum posts and emails) and supervises volunteers who are receiving calls.
The Helpline Program should not be used in replacement of medical examination, diagnosis, advice counseling or follow-up care. We strongly recommend routine testing (HIV and STI tests) and discussing your healthcare directly with a physician.
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Comments
Regarding Hiv
I had a sex with a girl 8 months before...her status is unknown. First round was safe wid her.In the second round at the time of sperm release condom had got a slight hole at the top and half sperm is released into her.Since 8 months I am normal with no disease whatsoever.....I am somewhere scared that hope i have not got any hiv virus.....please help...am i alright??
HIV Testing
Hi Sammy and thanks for using the AIDS Vancouver Helpline as a source for HIV/AIDS related information.
There is only one way for you to know if you have been infected by HIV and that is by being tested.
If you have never been tested we would strongly encourage you to do so. In fact, we suggest all sexually individuals be tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's), including HIV, on a regular basis for one's own safety as well as the safety of one's partners. Depending on the individual, this may be annually, bi-annually or every 3-4 months.
I trust I have addressed your concern, however if you have further questions, feel free to contact us again.
In Health,
Jon,
AIDS Vancouver Helpline Volunteer
Phone: 604.696.4666
regarding hiv
hi am ramesh ,i had unsafe sex with a girl and i have tested after 2 months the result was negative...and it has been almost 8 years by now,what are the symptoms i could have get by now........please,tell me if am negative now ....possibility in the future..... am getting married.....
Hi Ramesh,
Hi Ramesh,
First, it is great to hear that you got tested after your high risk exposure. The test you received at 2 months was an excellent indication of your HIV negative status. International testing guidelines still recommends a follow up test at 3 months or beyond for completely conclusive results. So, to put your mind at ease, you might want to take this last test before you get married.
HIV symptoms are non-specific and everyone experiences them different. Therefore, I can cannot comment on what your specific symptoms would be if you were ever HIV+. I can tell you that it is very unlikely that you are HIV+ based on your negative test result.
Stay Healthy,
Elyse
AIDS Vancouver Helpline Volunteer
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