Is HIV RNA Qualitative At 6 Weeks Post Exposure,conclusive?

Posted on Thu, 11 Sep 2014

Question: How accurate is the hiv rna qualitative and hiv abs imca test at 6 weeks post exposer and hiv abs imca test at 10.5 weeks? exposer was I received oral "male". I have had a doctor tell me I'm negative and there is no reason for futher testing do to resaults and exposer! fyi all other std are neg!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
hiv testing, You are safe

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it.

hiv rna by pcr is very accurate after 2 weeks of risky sexual contact. This test has a short window period for detection of hiv of about 2 weeks. Therefore a negative test post 2 weeks of a risky sexual contact almost rules out hiv. As you had a negative rna pcr test at 6 weeks post contact, therefore you are negative.

Even though majority of individuals who acquire hiv develop antibodies to it by 4 weeks, however, as the window period of hiv detection with antibody based tests is 12 weeks, therefore antibody test is not taken to be 100% reliable at 6 weeks and a negative antibody test does'nt totally rule out hiv at 6 weeks. Same with a negative antibody test at 10.5 weeks.

To summarise: A negative test for hiv rna test at 6 weeks rules out hiv in your case. However, a negative antibody test at 12 weeks is taken to be conclusive.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (29 minutes later)

So do you recomend retesting at 12 weeks or is it sufficient with the hiv rna test at 6 weeks? Also have you ever scene or heard of a test at 10.5 weeks change to positive?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
12 weeks testing is advisable

Detailed Answer:
Hi, yes I would recommend testing at 12 weeks to be taken as conclusive. It is very unlikely that a negative test at 10.5 weeks would turn out to be positive at 12 weeks because as I said most of the patients develop antibodies by 1 month.

Moreover your hiv rna test was also negative but this test is not used for diagnosis, it is rather used to monitor viral loads in those who are hiv +.

Anyways a second negative test with an antibody at 12 weeks would be conclusive.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (23 hours later)

Also what are chances of receiving or giving hiv from genital rubbing if there is wetness presen

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
HIV risk

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

The chances are very less, about 1 in 2500 for insertive vaginal sex and 1 in 1250 for receptive vaginal sex. The chances are the same with genital rubbing, if it is associated with fluid exchange as they are with vaginal contact.

Regards

Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar