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Q: Accuracy of rapid HIV test ?
asked by: inner_point on January 21st, 2009
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I had PROTECTED sex with a girl I barely knew... she was on top of me and her vaginal fluids were all-over my groin area. Also, when I realized I was not as hard I should be, I started to stroke my covered shaft until it got hard and finally climaxed. My doubt is whether some of her fluids that were on my groin area managed to enter inside the condom from the base of the condom while I was stroking.

I didn't have any sores and cuts but still, I started to have itching sensation all over my groin area from next day onwards. I was freaking out.. so, I used turmeric powder as an anti-fungal agent to clean the area which gave me some relief.

Two weeks later I got a oral rapid HIV test done which came out negative...
However, six weeks later I started to have flue like symptoms, sore throat, mild fever, night sweats and general weakness for 4-5 days. I got my second oral rapid HIV test done on 6th week and the results were negative.

Around 8th week, I started to have muscle pains around shoulder and upper back region. I again got another oral done and it came back negative.

I am really freaking out now and unable to sleep during nights because of a constant worry that all these test results might have been false negative as I still might be in the window period due to a possible exposure.

Please suggest me what do you guyz think about my case?? How accurate would rapid oral test be at 8 weeks?? And how do I get myself tested more reliably and accurately?

Thanks
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vliardi
replied on July 4th, 2009
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HIV rapid test
Well, your risk of exposure, as you described it, is very low risk since you were using a condom (even if you are afraid some vaginal fluids entered the condom, rest assured that the exposure is STILL low-risk). Furthermore, your risk of contacting HIV as a male is lower than that of a female, and even lower if you are circumcised.
Your symptoms have probably caused you much worry...but they are probably due to a common flu/bug. All too often people stress out, which in turn, weakens the immune system further.
For others that are reading this...a 2-week Rapid HIV test is completely useless.
However, the fact that you have had successive negative rapid tests at 6 and 8 weeks is HIGHLY reassuring, as at least 85% and 95% of HIV infected persons would have produced detectable antibodies at those time points, respectively (research suggests that the average HIV infected person will produce detectable antibodies somewhere in the 17-30 day range).
Technically, according to the CDC, you are still within your (13 week) HIV window period; however recent advancements in HIV testing have increased sensitivity and reliability such that a 6 week (and especially an 8 week) negative result are extremely accurate.
Do test again at 13 weeks, if for anything else but peace of mind...but for practical purposes you can start smiling and stop worrying, because your (negative) rapid HIV tests at the stated time points are unequivocally sound.
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