I have been told that the PCR test is not supposed to be used for diagnostic purposes. I had a PCR test done for HIV a month after I had sex with someone who turned out to be a different person than I thought he was. The PCR test said “not detected”, but if it isn’t a diagnostic test, what good is it? Do I have to start over now?

A “not detected” HIV-1 DNA PCR at one month after exposure is an extremely reliable result, and there doesn’t seem to be any compelling reason for you to retest. The actual diagnosis of HIV infection is currently given on the basis of a positive ELISA antibody test which has been confirmed by a positive Western Blot test. Positive or reactive results on an antibody test are actually diagnostic because they confirm the presence of antibodies and therefore infer the presence of the virus itself. The PCR is actually diagnostic as well, but at the present time it has not yet been given this status by the CDC. The most likely reason that the PCR is not considered to be diagnostic at the present time is that it is so sensitive that there is still a possibility of a false “detected” result, with no immediate way to confirm its veracity. False positive ELISA results are possible as well, but the Western Blot is there to weed those out immediately. It should be noted that false “detected” results on the PCR have become fewer and fewer in recent years and are now quite rare.

Back to your original question, remember that a diagnosis requires that some disease or condition be present. As an example, one is “diagnosed “ as having diabetes, but is not “diagnosed” as not having diabetes. In my example, determining that someone does not have diabetes “rules out” diabetes. It does not actually “diagnose” that person as not having diabetes. This might seem like a picky detail, but it is actually critical to the understanding of the problem posed by your question. You might not want to diagnose HIV with a PCR, but there is no better or faster way to rule it out, and ruling it out is really what we want to do.

Take, for example, a chest x-ray done because there is a family history of lung cancer. We know that many chest x-rays show some dark spots, but only a few of these turn out to be cancer. We would not begin radiation and chemotherapy upon discovery of one of those dark spots without doing a biopsy and making a diagnosis of lung cancer first. This doesn’t make the x-ray a problem, just a very sensitive type of test. Likewise, we would not begin HIV treatment without doing an ELISA/Western Blot confirmation and giving a diagnosis of HIV. This doesn’t make the PCR a problem, just a very sensitive type of test. If you are worried about lung cancer, a negative x-ray will tell you that most likely you don’t have it, not that you definitely do have it. If you are worried about recent HIV exposure, and you do not want to wait three months for a conclusive result, the HIV DNA PCR can tell you that you were not infected, and that is primarily what you want to know.

I had a recent exposure on Jan 6th and I heard the DNA PCR will be able to provide conclusive results on HIV after 28 days.

However, I read contradictory statements on the internet that it is not a reliable method and there are more false positives and even HIV positive people are not caught with this test. Is that so? Please let me know how accurate it will be right after 28 days from the day of exposure.

Answer:

It is true there are many misconceptions regarding this test and other tests for HIV that are different from the traditional HIV antibody test.

Let’s say for the last 20 years, the most common way to save your life during a car accident, and the only device that consumers were familiar with was called a seat belt. More recently developed is a more advanced technology known as an airbag. As you can imagine, it took sometime for this new technology to be accepted and understood, as it has for the DNA PCR. Admittedly, there are many misconceptions about this test, as well as other HIV tests, as well as the subject of HIV and AIDS as a whole, for that matter.

You asked if the HIV DNA PCR has a higher rate of false positives. The misconception regarding false positives stems from the DNA PCR not being offered with an automatic reflex to a confirmatory test. If it was detected, another test had to be performed to confirm the presence of HIV. The same argument could be made about the HIV ELISA, if only the ELISA did not automatically reflex to a confirmatory test called the Western Blot.

The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a noble prize winning technology, and it is the best option available when someone is concerned about recent HIV exposure. It is used for health care workers after a needle stick. Originally it was developed to test infants born to HIV positive mothers, because a positive antibody test, in this case, was not a reliable marker of infection.

You also said that you heard that even people that are HIV positive are not caught on this test. There is not much to say about that other than it is simply not true. I am not sure where or why that would be said. The DNA PCR is the absolute most sensitive test for HIV. In terms of measurement capacity, it can detect as little as 10 copies of proviral DNA per milliliter of whole blood. Even the most sensitive HIV RNA PCR test can only detect 40-50 copies per ml.

We are sorry to hear you are having trouble finding what you need. If you have decided to get tested, click here. If you have any more questions, please let us know.

Hi there,

I have a question:

I had protected sex. After 65 days from that, I did an HIV EIA test. The result is negative.

My question is: does that mean I am 100% free from HIV? Is an EIA enough? Do I need retest again or am I fine?

Thank you so much

To Whom It May Concern,

The HIV EIA test is an extremely reliable test, given that you wait an appropriate amount of time after the possible exposure to get reliable results. EIA is short for ELISA which stands for enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay, meaning that it tests for your body’s immune response to the virus, in this case the HIV virus. This production of antibodies, in most people, takes up to 6 weeks. About 95%-97% of the population will have a detectable immune response after 41 days, just one day short of 6 weeks. For individuals with a healthy immune system, the results are considered conclusive, meaning that no further testing is necessary, after 3 months.

In your situation, you waited 65 days, or about 9 weeks. The fact that you did not get a positive HIV test results is more than promising, since by this time, most of the population would test positive. Nonetheless, the window period is 3 months, which means a follow-up HIV antibody test is a good idea.

There is one other aspect of your question that I have not yet addressed. The fact that you used protection is extremely important and means that you were most likely protected from getting most sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

If you simply did not want to wait the full 3 months to get conclusive results on the antibody test, you should consider the HIV DNA PCR test (human immunodeficiency virus, deoxyribonucleic acid, polymerase chain reaction test), which offers conclusive results after just 28 days, per manufacturer’s recommendation. Given what we know about the acute stage of the virus and the test itself, you are able to test even earlier than 28 days, and still get extremely reliable test results. Between 11 and 16 days after exposure, somebody with HIV will after a viral count of over one million copies of HIV virus per milliliter of blood. The DNA PCR test detects as little as 10 copies of HIV DNA per milliliter of blood. As you can see, the amount of virus present would greatly exceed the minimum limit of virus needed to show up on the test.

I caught gonorrhea about 10 years ago, and because I was so young I didn’t know what to do so it was left untreated. Since then I’ve been in and out of the clinic trying to free myself from this infection, I no longer have the immediate symptoms but I am constantly suffering with being uncomfortable and burning when urinating. The main problem is every time I go to see someone about this they tell me that there’s nothing wrong with me. I know for a fact that there is because I have slept with girls and they have been passed on this infection even though I have tested negatively every time. I’m losing hope because I can’t have a girlfriend due to this ongoing hell that I’m going through, I really do hope that you can recommend a specialist or give me some answers rather than just telling me that I’m fine.

First of all, I want you to know that there isn’t much that we can do for you. It sounds like you have seen at least one doctor about this problem; it may be a good idea to see a specialist like an urologist. If you have already done so, maybe you should see a different one, and get at least a second opinion. I’m not sure where you are located, but if you feel like you have exhausted all your options, something to consider is the MAYO clinic, located in Rochester, Minnesota. Many people view this as their last option, as the MAYO clinic takes patients and cases that seem to be otherwise unsolvable, and try to figure out what is happening, rather than just telling you that there is nothing wrong.

Aside from that, a couple things to think about would be as follows:

-If you have tested negative every time, then you should not have anything to worry about. If you have no bacteria in your urethra, then you shouldn’t be able to pass it on. This kind of infection resides in the urethra, so a urethral swab or a urine test would be the kind testing that you need to perform.

-You could have gotten gonorrhea again. That isn’t out of the question. Assuming that you were treated at some point in the past, you could have gotten it again from a more recent partner. You may have had sex with someone that didn’t have symptoms, so they didn’t know about it, but they could have passed it on to you. Additionally, you might have internal tissue damage due to scarring from the original infection, which means you may still notice the signs that you mentioned.

As frustrating as this may be, do not give up. In order to find urologists in your area, you might try to contact a local American Medical Association office and ask them for a list of urologists in your area. Better yet, just go to your primary care physician and ask him/her for a list or at least a few recommendations. I would start with the latter.

Best of luck to you, and I hope you get closure.

Question:
Hi,

I just met a person who I really like.

He also just told me he has Herpes Simplex type 1, but in the genital area.

I have had cold sores all my life with sporadic outbreaks and thus I suspect that I have Herpes Simplex type 1, in the oral area. Usually, the outbreaks occur when I don’t sleep or when I get allergies. I will go and test myself soon to confirm or check this. Where do I do this?

My first main question is the following. What is the risk of him infecting me with the genital form if we were to have unprotected sex? After reading lots on the web it seems that you are at a lower risk of getting one type of Herpes Simplex if you already have the other since it normally keeps to the area where you get outbreaks. Is this true for my situation? What about the reverse (me infecting him with the oral one)?

The second question is what is the risk of him infecting me if we use protection? I have read about the asymptomatic spread, viral shedding. Can Herpes Simplex type 1 spread from areas where it is not usually broken out? In effect: can it go from him in the area not covered by the condom if he usually has outbreaks in a part that covers the area infected (although of course not during outbreak).

Thank you so much for helping me.

Answer:
To answer your first question, there are many different ways to go about testing. Many places offer laboratory based testing, which is the highest quality testing available. Usually, there is no long wait, as there would be in a clinic, to get tested, as well as to receive your results. On top of this, they don’t send you to a clinic. Rather, they would send you to a private, and thus discreet, patient service center. Check out the links in the sidebar (right side) if this is what you are looking for.

The general principle about herpes is that there are two types, HSV1 and HSV2. HSV1 usually appears orally, while HSV2 usually appears genitally, but in about 30% of cases, HSV1 appears genitally and HSV2 appears orally.

The first thing that you should do would be to get tested. It would be in your best interest for you and you partner to be tested for both HSV1 and HSV2. I am not sure how your partner determined that he has HSV1 genitally, but the most accurate way would be to run a culture test on a swab of the blister or outbreak. In the absence of outbreaks, you could get tested for both HSV1 and HSV2, using a separate IgG test for both, at least three months after possible exposure. If only HSV1 shows up positive and the only outbreaks that have been observed are in the genital region, then it can be safely assumed that the genital outbreaks are caused by HSV1. This aside, you should make sure that what you have been observing orally, is actually herpes, or specifically HSV1. Many people have canker sores, and they think that this is herpes. It is actually an aphthous ulcer, is not contagious, and is similar to herpes in terms of symptoms.

Now, let’s move on to your second and third questions.

If you and your partner have HSV1, then you can’t get it from him, and he can’t get it from you, because both of you already have standing antibodies towards HSV1. In your specific scenario, you should be protected from getting HSV1 in the genital region, if you already have it orally. Once you know you have HSV1, then you really not subject to getting it again, no matter the location. On the other hand, if you don’t have HSV1, and what you have been noticing is not actually herpes, then you could get it from your partner. You could get it genitally, from sexual intercourse; you could get it orally, from performing oral sex on him. In reality, if you don’t have HSV1, you could receive it orally and genitally, if you are infected at the same time. For example, if you perform oral sex on him and then have intercourse with him, you would likely receive the virus in both areas, because you haven’t built up that immune response to protect you from getting re-infected.

If you have HSV2, then you aren’t necessarily immune to receiving HSV1, but this would provide some resistance against infection. How much resistance? That isn’t exactly established, but we do know that having one type of herpes (thus having those antibodies) lends some resistance against the other type of herpes.

What are the chances that a male can catch HIV from a female who gave him a manual release (hand job)?
None. Well, OK, if we conjure up the worst case scenario and employ a vivid imagination, maybe the chances are close to none instead of actually none. Let’s say, for argument sake, that the male has serious STD problems resulting in open sores on the penis or in the urethra (for example, he may have a very active genital herpes infection). Let’s also say, again, for argument sake, that the woman is HIV positive, has a high viral count and is in the middle of her monthly menstrual cycle. She then uses the blood to lubricate the man during the hand job, forcing the blood into the penile lesions. Another possibility would be if the HIV positive woman had just acquired a wound on her hand, and thus the wound would be bleeding while she performed on the male. Even then it wouldn’t be easy, most likely because if her hand was bleeding, she probably wouldn’t be performing a hand job on the male. None or next to none. You be the judge.

I dated someone who had cold sores which is a form of HSV-1. I was sick a few years ago and my internal medicine doctor did an extensive blood work on me. They found that I do have herpes in my blood, but it is dormant. I have never had cold sores in my life. Since I have herpes, can it be transmitted to somebody else that I may have sexual intercourse with? And can the other person contract it by kissing only?

The majority of adults have HSV-1, and most of them have had it since their adolescence. Once you have it, you are immune to having new HSV-1 infections, although, you may still get outbreaks.

Herpes cannot migrate, so if you have it orally, that is the only location that it can be transmitted from. It is possible to transmit the virus through areas of previous infection through a process called transient asymptomatic viral shedding, in which the virus can come out where there are no symptoms present. The fact that you don’t have sores is a good thing because it shows that your immune system is restraining the virus. If you are not having outbreaks, that also limits the likelihood that you are undergoing asymptomatic viral shedding, but it does not guarantee that this is not happening.

There are some pieces missing from this story. You never told me whether or not you had genital herpes, but you did mention that you had HSV-1. Was original site of infection oral or genital? If it was HSV-1 in the genital region, as in that was the original site of infection, then you could pass it on to a partner through sexual intercourse, provided that they have never been exposed to HSV-1 in the past. This is unlikely. If you have the infection orally, then you could pass it on to a partner through kissing, again, provided that they have never been exposed to HSV-1.

One month ago, I went to a hospital in Fairfax, VA to check for HIV on a blood specimen. At that time, I also checked for other sexually transmitted diseases, and all of my tests results were negative. I am confused about one thing, that is, when the doctor took my blood using needle and a syringe. The doctor took the needle and the syringe from the package, but both, the needle and the syringe looked used (old). Therefore, I am scared that I might have gotten HIV or another virus from the needle. Should I get tested again? Or, what is my next step?

To Whom It May Concern,

I understand your concern with the needle and syringe appearance, but I do not believe any legitimate physician or HIV/STD testing provider would reuse a needle for any reason. Not only is it dangerous to your health, but to their own as well. Needles are inexpensive and easily attainable for any physician, so there is no reason that an established health care provider would reuse needles. In over 25 years in the field I have only heard of one incident involving that sort of thing; however, even then the needles were still clean… just not to hospital standards. No cases of HIV or hepatitis were reported from that incident either. If you would like further assurance you should contact the HIV testing center you used and ask them to explain the appearance of the needles. If, after talking to the testing center, you still feel worried about the situation, you should consider retesting for HIV, as that may ease your mind. I would not consider it necessary for you to do any further testing, unless you have any other sexual contacts that you are concerned about, but in many cases testing can do a wonder for your peace of mind. Nonetheless, it is necessary, if you are sexually active, to get tested about once every six months to a year, or in between sexual partners, as recommended by the CDC.

I have never had any sexually transmitted diseases. I do get boils a lot. I got this bubble the day I started my cycle which was July 3rd and ended July 8th. All of a sudden, I noticed this bubble, so I gave it a day and tried using a needle to pop it. It bled and didn’t change in size, so I was wondering what it could be. The boil is on the outside of my pussy. I do shave but it isn’t from that because it would have popped and puss would have come out. What can this be? It hurts and it is uncomfortable when I wear underwear because they aggravate it. Can you please help me?

Your description of symptoms does not seem to sound like any classic STD. Anyone who is sexually active can have an STD. That is why testing is necessary to determine what, if any, STDs a person might have. The symptoms, as you describe them, do not seem to reflect any specific STD that we are aware of. Especially if you are currently showing symptoms such as blistering or boils in the genital region, the kind of symptoms you described would best be addressed by a gynecologist, dermatologist, or a general practitioner. I’m not suggesting that you do or do not have a serious problem; I simply do not know. This is why you must present these symptoms to a doctor who can actually look at the area and make a diagnosis.

First of all, you don’t have to have sex to get an STD or HIV. Some STDs can be transmitted simply through skin to skin exposure, like herpes or syphilis. You can get HIV other ways, also. For example, a needle-stick or blood transfusion can cause transmission of the virus. You should also consider there is not a screening test for every STD. For example, there is not a screening test for HPV (genital warts). If you have symptoms, you can get a biopsy, but in the absence of symptoms, there is no way to know if you have been exposed and, therefore, are able to transmit this to another partner. Of course, testing is an important part of preserving your sexual health, but in some cases, there is no way to completely rule out any possibility of an STD. In this case, taking precautions, such as using protection, being in a long-term, monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner, having a good general knowledge about STDs, and limiting your sexual partners can further reduce the risk of contracting an STDs. Generally speaking, if you can completely rule out the possibility of you and your partner having HIV or any other STD, and there are no other outside risk factors, then you have nothing to worry about. You cannot get HIV or any STD from a person that does not have one.

Hi, I am sorry about not being clear. I am a male. My condom broke, and as soon as I pulled out, I ejaculated. It must have been a few seconds before I pulled out. Is my risk high of contracting Hepatitis C?

The first thing that you should consider is the person who you were having sex with. Does this person have Hepatitis C? If this person does have HCV, how dense is their viral load? Assuming that they have Hepatitis C, which is a very big assumption unless you know for sure that she has it, one major factor to consider would be her viral load, or amount of virus she has present in her body fluid. Viral load can fluctuate for a number of reasons. Nonetheless, HCV would still be hard to transmit, unless you are sharing needles or receiving anal intercourse, which is a whole another story.

There are a number of other factors that can affect your chances of contracting a blood-borne illness, such as Hepatitis C or HIV. One of these factors would be the duration of the contact. As you mentioned, the contact that was unprotected was very short. Another would be if you had any open sores, legions, or breaks in the skin of your penis. For example, this could be caused by herpes or syphilis. Recent studies have shown that even having herpes without an outbreak can cause lymphocytes to be present at or near the surface of the skin, which can enhance the probability of HIV infection, because the HIV virus bonds to the CD4 receptors on the surface of lymphocytes. Despite this, epidemiological information still tells us that this does not happen very often. In general, this infection is more difficult to contract than something like chlamydia or gonorrhea. Even without the condom, contracting Hepatitis C would be not be likely. That does not mean it is not possible, and, of course, we would never recommend any kind of sexual activity without the use of protection, unless you are certain of your partner’s sexual health status.

If you feel that getting tested would help you, then you should consider getting tested. I don’t think that you need to get tested, but in many cases this can help reassure you. There are a couple different ways to get tested for Hepatitis C. One way is by means of an HCV RNA PCR, which looks directly for the virus. This way you can detect HCV much earlier than you could with, for example, an antibody test, which is the other way to get tested. To find HCV testing locations in your area, click here.

Possibly? Yes, anything is possible.

When you say a five second incident, what is the exposure in concern? Five seconds of scratching your ear? Or a needle stick? If it’s a needle stick, it takes less than five seconds to inject yourself with a dirty needle, in which case the infection would likely occur.

What about five seconds of an HCV-positive male penetrating you rectally and ejaculating? If that happened, then it wouldn’t matter whether the exposure was five seconds or 3 hours long; that would likely cause an infection to occur.

On the other hand, what if the exposure is five seconds of a hand job? Well, in that case, the probability of infection would be slim-to-none.

These are all things to think about when you consider testing for hepatitis C virus, which is usually done by means of an antibody test or a PCR (polymerase chain reaction).

On April 11^th, I had a one night stand. On the April 15^th, I took an HIV antibody test along with a HIV RNA PCR test. My results came back negative. On May 12^th, I took both tests again, and both came back negative again. My question is, should I consider these results conclusive? Or should I get tested one more time being that is past three months now? Also what kind of HIV test do pregnant woman get?

We’ll start with the simple question first. Most women get a standard ELISA antibody test for HIV. This is because this test is relatively inexpensive, and is processed at a laboratory, meaning that it will give the most reliable test results.

At four days after the exposure, there is a possibility that the RNA test would detect the viral presence, although the chances are slim. The HIV antibody test would not be reliable at all after such a short amount of time.

At one month after the exposure, the HIV RNA PCR would be extremely reliable. Unfortunately, I cannot consider this test conclusive, because there is no published material stating that this would be conclusive after one month. On the other hand, there is absolutely no reason why an RNA PCR would not detect the vast amount of virus present one month after infection.

Given the rapidly replicating nature of the HIV virus, you should have virus present, especially after one month, and there should be more than enough to be detectable on the RNA PCR test. The antibody test, while not conclusive, will give you a mere indication after one month, with about 50% of the population having a detectable amount of antibodies. You need more of the virus in your system to show a positive result on the HIV antibody test than you would need to show a positive result on the PCR test. This is because the virus must be present in your system long before any antibodies are produced, all the while, the virus has been replicating at an alarming rate. Thus, the HIV RNA PCR results would have been extremely reliable during your second round of testing.

If you have an ultrasound 3 months after intercourse, and there is no fetus developing in the womb, then there is no point in waiting for a baby to kick after 8 months. Similarly, once you have determined that there is no virus in your system, there is no reason to think about redoing an antibody test at 3 months, because antibodies are only produced if there is virus. The PCR test looks directly for the genetic material of the virus itself. Anybody can say that a PCR test could miss the presence of HIV in the blood one month after exposure, but it is also possible, and I contend, more likely, that you could get hit by a truck on the way to get a test that you didn’t really need in the first place (a 3 month antibody test), based on the results of the PCR.

On the other hand, the results aren’t conclusive from any research standpoint. This means that in order to get conclusive results, you would either need to do a DNA PCR after one month, which the manufacturer considers conclusive after one month, or an ELISA antibody test after three months.

Remember, the best approach is to practice safe sex, by using protection, and prudence in choosing partners. If you choose not to use protection, it is imminent that you and your partner have been tested and are known to be previously uninfected.

Can douching with vinegar kill the HIV virus before it infects you?

I do not recommend cleaning used needles with vinegar, nor do I recommend douching with bleach. In fact, I would strongly recommend against douching with bleach or using needles.

The best thing to do would be to use protection and get tested regularly; do not try to make up a post exposure method of killing the virus.

That doesn’t mean that vinegar won’t kill the virus. It is possible, but it isn’t consistently predictable, it isn’t certain, and by all means, it is not even remotely a good method of preventing HIV infection. I mean, if you put the HIV virus into Coca-Cola, for example, the virus will eventually break down. It will eventually break down in vinegar, but you cannot be certain that it will do so in time to prevent infection. HIV infection, in some cases, can happen very quickly. For example, if somebody has an open wound or even a herpes blister in the genital region, and thus has lymphocytes near the surface of the skin, the HIV virus can bond and cause infection even before douching would do any good at all.

The bottom-line answer is this: do not put yourself in that situation in the first place. I cannot emphasize how much using protection properly and getting tested regularly can help you. If you are informed about your sexual health, then you will be healthier, and you will be confident that you are not putting anybody else at risk for contracting a STD.

Can you access my risk? 4.5 weeks ago, things got out of control at a strip club in Michigan and I received oral sex from two strippers and also fingered them and made out with them. I’m pretty sure I’m not at too much of risk, but could you give me your opinion on what my risk is? And I have one other question. Is a 13 week test 100% conclusive as I plan to take one just to be sure. I have considered a DNA PCR test but I have read on Med Help that the test in not very accurate.

Dear Buddy, let’s start with your risk of contacting a sexually transmitted disease.

As you can imagine, many of our callers tend to be fixated on HIV infection. While we understand this, we want you to be careful not to overlook other infections that could be more likely from this exposure. If the oral sex was unprotected fellatio, then you should consider testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Your risk involves exposure to saliva, vaginal secretions, and skin to skin exposure. Skin to skin exposure can result in a herpes or syphilis infection, as well as molluscum contagiosum, scabies, pubic lice and multiple other infections. All of these infections are probably more likely than man HIV infection. It is true that something like HIV can be transmitted through exposure to vaginal secretions, but the skin needs to be somehow compromised. For many, early exposure antigen testing is a great way to relieve anxiety shortly after a potential exposure. The HIV DNA PCR is a great option for people that want to avoid waiting 3 months to know their HIV status.

You mentioned that you read that the test is not very accurate, but you did not mention why they said that. Many places say that the test is not used for diagnostic procedures. This is true. Although this holds true for the antibody test as well.  In order to DIAGNOSE HIV, one must test positive on the confirmatory western blot, no matter which screening test is performed (HIV DNA PCR or HIV ELISA). Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a nobel prize winning technology, and as with any lab testing further testing may be needed to confirm a positive lab result. To address any specific concerns about the DNA PCR, we encourage you to call one of our test experts at 866-926-4669.

I just received the results from my STD testing and it showed positive for Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1. I haven’t had a cold sore in years. I am in a relationship with a woman and we have both been tested just to make sure. Is it possible to infect my partner by kissing or oral sex?

Yes. Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 is the virus that most commonly causes oral herpes. If you have oral herpes caused by Herpes Simplex Virus type 1, it is possible for a person to contract herpes from you through contact with your mouth.

It is more likely for your partner to contract herpes from a contact like kissing or from you performing oral sex because these contacts involve contact with mucosal tissue. This tissue is the softer, more sensitive tissue, located in areas like the lips and genital regions. These areas are considered more susceptible to herpes infection than other parts of the body. You want to know whether you are putting your partner at a greater risk for contracting herpes. You should consider that most people have oral herpes, which makes you just like most people. This means that you are not really any different than most other people your partner has kissed or had oral sex with.

As far as the probability of your partner contracting herpes, their risk for contracting herpes is going to be greater if they have no previous exposure to a herpes virus. For example, a person completely without herpes could be more likely to contract herpes from having oral sex performed on them, than a person that has previously been exposed, and therefore has some immune resistance.

Another thing to think about is that it is much more likely for your partner to have oral herpes caused by HSV-1 than not. Therefore, while your concern is admirable, most people are not as cautious, at least in regards to this situation.

About five weeks ago I think someone put a roofie in my drink. I was at a club and I had maybe two drinks. The last thing that I remember is talking to this guy that bought me a drink. After that my friends said I disappeared for hours. I woke up in the back seat of my car, still in the bar parking lot. My clothes were twisted and mostly pulled off. I was by myself and I do not remember anything but I know something happened.

I am a gay male and so was that guy. I’m pretty sure I know what he did to me and I am really scared about HIV infection. I know there are ways to get tested early, can I get tested now?

St. Louis

I am sorry to hear about your recent situation and we know waiting a couple months for an answer can be difficult. Assuming there was anal penetration, and there was no condom used, your risk of HIV or Hepatitis B infection can be high. Although testing for Hepatitis B is important, I am sure your primary concern is the HIV test.

Since it has been five weeks from the exposure you have a few options. You could decide to take the traditional HIV antibody test now. Most people will test positive at 6 weeks, so the traditional HIV antibody test can be very useful at five or six weeks from your exposure. You most likely want a definitive test result now. Rather than waiting for an immune response you may decide to take an antigen test, or a test that looks directly for viral particles. The most common antigen test is the HIV DNA PCR. The PCR technology makes the test extremely sensitive, making it possible to identify infection as early as days or weeks from your exposure. You could also wait three months and then take the HIV antibody test.

If you need additional testing information follow the link below for qualified testing providers.

I have recently found out that I was pregnant, and decided to get tested for STD’s. I’ve had the same partner for over 2 years, so I was not worried about testing positive for anything, until my doctor called me. They said I needed to come in and give another specimen because the first HIV Test was positive and they needed to do more tests that will take almost 4 weeks for results. It has only been a few days and my husband I are losing our minds. Do you have suggestions and what are the chances the test is wrong?

Take a few deep breaths, there is a good chance everything is just fine. Although this is not something that happens all of the time, it does happen. You could have had the positive HIV test because you are HIV positive, but this could also turn out to be a classic false positive.

Unfortunately, determining the cause of a false positive is not an exact science, however there are certain situations common with false positives. It seems that situations that create an increase in antibody presence, such as pregnancy or a recent vaccination, can also increase the possibility of a false positive.

It is not uncommon for someone that is pregnant, or recently pregnant to have a positive HIV ELISA test. Of course, if the person is actually HIV negative, the secondary HIV test, called the western blot will be negative.

If you do not want to wait 4 weeks for your final test results, you can get tested privately and get quick HIV test results. Some people may consider taking the HIV DNA PCR because it is not antibody dependant and therefore useful in clarifying confusing issues about false positives. Follow the link below for qualified testing providers.

]]> http://askthestdexperts.com/2009/03/09/hiv/pregnancy-and-a-false-positive-hiv-test/feed/ 0 http://askthestdexperts.com/2009/02/13/hiv/denied-at-blood-bank/ http://askthestdexperts.com/2009/02/13/hiv/denied-at-blood-bank/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:38:15 +0000 Clare http://askthestdexperts.com/?p=84

Please help. I have been a regular blood donor for many years. I just received a letter in the mail requesting that I no longer donate blood because I had a positive lab test. Do I have HIV or something else? What type of HIV test did they do and what else do they test for?

It is quite possible that you were denied because of a positive blood test, however, it is also possible for you to be negative for hepatitis or HIV and still be denied at a blood bank. The Red Cross and other blood banks perform more that one HIV test, as well as tests for Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. The test result may be positive because it is a false positive or because you actually have HIV or hepatitis. A blood bank will deny your sample for both of these reasons.

However, it is important to understand there is a difference. A false positive HIV test usually means the first test, the HIV EIA, was positive but the secondary, or confirmatory test, the Western Blot, was negative. If you were actually HIV positive, your Western Blot would also show positive. A similar scenario could happen with hepatitis testing.

It is important for you not to make any assumptions about your situation. First call the blood bank and to get as much information about your results as possible, including whether they recommend that you get retested. If needed, a simple retest will likely resolve your concerns. To avoid getting the same results, you may consider a different test such as the HIV DNA PCR, which is a more conclusive test.

Question: I took an HIV DNA PCR at 32 days. The test came back negative, thank God! But I keep reading about the three and six month window period. Do I need to get retested?

Remember, the three and six months refers only to the HIV antibody test, not to the PCR test, which looks directly for viral proteins. The HIV DNA PCR can often detect as little as 10 viral copies per milliliter of whole blood. It would not take very long after being infected by HIV for viral copies to get this high. In fact, during the first weeks after infection, viral concentration is actually at its highest. More specific research suggests by 11 to 16 days, viral copies could be in the range of one million copies per milliliter of whole blood.

You should always check with your testing provider to fully understand the nature of the test that you took, but if the results from your HIV DNA PCR test are negative, no further HIV testing is required for that incident.

To find out more information about early exposure testing and treatment options, contact AboutMyHealth.us. They can provide private, fast, lab-based testing at reasonable prices.

I have been happily married for 18 years, but three weeks ago I had unprotected sex with a stripper. I don’t even go to strip clubs. I have not slept since. I feel terrible and I can’t stop worrying about the possibility of giving my wife an STD, or even exposing my children to HIV. Is this possible? What are the risks?

You sound like this was your first time cheating on your spouse. I’m sure that you realize your fears may be accentuated because of your unfaithfulness.

In terms of risks, you should consider what are the most common STDs in the general population, and secondly, what is the likelihood of acquiring an STD. Herpes, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea are the most common. Fortunately, you can, and should, test for these very shortly after the exposure. Other diseases, like HIV, require you to wait six to twelve weeks before taking the traditional HIV test. (Please see Window Period, HIV DNA PCR).

You are at a much greater risk for contracting herpes, or a common bacterial infection, like Chlamydia, or Gonorrhea than for HIV. Under most circumstances, the likelihood of you first contracting HIV, and then in addition passing this on to your children, would be considered remote.

The situation with your wife, and your heightened anxiety, suggests the need for resolution as quickly as possible. You should ask yourself what you are you worried about. Your risk for HIV infection may be limited, but if that is what you are worried about then it may be worth the extra expense to test early. This approach is understandably common, but remember not to neglect testing for other more common STDs because of their higher prevalence.

To find out more information about early exposure testing and treatment options, contact AboutMyHealth.us. They can provide private, fast, lab-based testing at reasonable prices.

Three days ago I found out that my partner tested HIV positive, I don’t want to wait 3 months to get tested. Is there anything I can do?

Although waiting three months is recommended to know you have a definitive, reliable test result, it does not mean you cannot get tested now. The best thing for you to do is get tested now. You should consider early exposure HIV DNA PCR testing, which can rule out infection very shortly (days or weeks) after potential exposure.

If you know your partner is HIV Positive, and you have had a significant recent exposure, it is important that you talk with someone educated on the potential benefits of PEP (post exposure prophylaxis). Immediate treatment could have a significant impact on your long term health. Do not wait three months to get tested! Even if your exposure was just a few days ago, you can call for help and information. Experts can evaluate your individual risk, and discuss early testing and treatment options. The link below can provide more information about early exposure testing and treatment options.

To find out more information about early exposure testing and treatment options, contact AboutMyHealth.us. They can provide private, fast, lab-based testing at reasonable prices.

I have spent days on the internet and calling various HIV testing centers. I am just trying to get a straight answer on the window period (for the HIV test). I think it is three months, but each place I call or visit tells me something different. Please help!!!!!

It is true you will find a wide range of answers.  The subject of HIV and AIDS has always been plagued with confusion and ambiguity. Unfortunately, this is also true of the HIV window period. Partially to blame, at least in my opinion, is that the traditional HIV test, the HIV antibody test, also know as ELISA, is just that, an antibody test! It measures antibodies that are created in response to the presence of the HIV virus.

Though the time it takes for an individual to create a detectable antibody response may vary, in general, we know, from many years of research, that most individuals will create a detectable response by six weeks. To be more specific, 95-97% of the population will test positive if the virus is present by 41 days. At three months, it is considered conclusive for healthy individuals. A person that has a weakened immune system may take up to six months to create a detectable response.

For private, fast, lab-based testing at reasonable prices: AboutMyHealth.us

I live in Mississippi. I heard my fiancée and I have to get an HIV test before we get married, how can I find out for sure?

Each state has their own STD testing requirements. The state of Mississippi does not currently require an HIV test before issuing a marriage license, but you are required to get tested for Syphilis and the results are only valid for 30 days. The test must be issued by a state certified laboratory. To find out more information on your state testing requirements, or to find a state certified laboratory, contact AboutMyHealth.us. They can provide private, fast, lab-based testing at reasonable prices.

I work at a hospital and was stuck by a needle while tending to a patient. What should I do?

You should have already attempted to squeeze out anything that may have entered your body through the needle stick site. It may be a good idea to tell a supervisor immediately, although some people choose not to. The worst thing you can do is pretend this did not happen.

You probably know, while transmission may not be highly probable, it is possible. Also, if the person was known to have HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C, the situation would be treated more delicately.

Do not panic, but do not wait to call us for testing and information. Act right away. We know you may be afraid to call, but we can help. There is a very good chance everything is fine, but if you are infected, immediate treatment could have a serous impact on your long term health. Some experts believe it may be possible for immediate treatment (post exposure prophylaxis) to actually reverse or prevent infection, especially for chronic Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

We also offer advanced antigen testing that can rule out very early exposure to HIV and Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infection.

For private, fast, lab-based testing at reasonable prices: AboutMyHealth.us