How long should I wait before being tested for HIV?
January 20, 2008
I have a question about HIV tests. Please forgive my ignorance.
Scenario: On Day 1, you have unprotected oral and anal sex with a guy (I know, not necessarily a good idea, but...). You KNOW you are HIV- at the time. On Day 2, this guy calls you, says he got up not feeling too well that morning, went to the doctor, who ran some tests and told him he was HIV+.
How many days after Day 1 should you be tested and when can you expect to receive RELIABLE results, either positive or negative? What are the chances that you can have unprotected sex with a person who is HIV+ and not turn up "hot" yourself?
Scenario: On Day 1, you have unprotected oral and anal sex with a guy (I know, not necessarily a good idea, but...). You KNOW you are HIV- at the time. On Day 2, this guy calls you, says he got up not feeling too well that morning, went to the doctor, who ran some tests and told him he was HIV+.
How many days after Day 1 should you be tested and when can you expect to receive RELIABLE results, either positive or negative? What are the chances that you can have unprotected sex with a person who is HIV+ and not turn up "hot" yourself?
This is an advice column. You never have to apologize for not knowing the answer to your question. Unless you ask something really stupid, of course. And I mean not just run-of-the-mill stupid, but something REEEEEALY stupid.
Anyway, you want to know how fast modern medicine can determine whether you are positive. The answer is "pretty fast, but it takes a while." A standard HIV-antibody test will not be particularly accurate unless six weeks or so go by. Your doctor can do a viral load test. It takes less than six weeks to give an accurate reading, but is a more expensive test.
In your situation, you'd want to immeeeeeeeeeediately talk to your doctor. As in, go into your doctor's office and demand to see him. If you receive treatment within 48-72 hours of exposure, they can give you a sort of "morning after" treatment for HIV. It's a month-long series of medications, but it is designed to give your immune system a big burst against HIV. It's what doctors use if they are accidentally exposed to HIV-infected blood, and it may just work for you.
Once you've started on your medication, your doctor will want to give you an immediate test. It won't help with your new exposure, but it will determine if you had HIV before-the-fact. Assuming that is negative, then you will want to be tested after six weeks, three months, and again at six months.
Anyway, you want to know how fast modern medicine can determine whether you are positive. The answer is "pretty fast, but it takes a while." A standard HIV-antibody test will not be particularly accurate unless six weeks or so go by. Your doctor can do a viral load test. It takes less than six weeks to give an accurate reading, but is a more expensive test.
In your situation, you'd want to immeeeeeeeeeediately talk to your doctor. As in, go into your doctor's office and demand to see him. If you receive treatment within 48-72 hours of exposure, they can give you a sort of "morning after" treatment for HIV. It's a month-long series of medications, but it is designed to give your immune system a big burst against HIV. It's what doctors use if they are accidentally exposed to HIV-infected blood, and it may just work for you.
Once you've started on your medication, your doctor will want to give you an immediate test. It won't help with your new exposure, but it will determine if you had HIV before-the-fact. Assuming that is negative, then you will want to be tested after six weeks, three months, and again at six months.
