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Is Negative HIV Test Post 10 Days Of Exposure Conclusive?

Posted on Tue, 28 Jul 2015

Question: This a follow up to questions I asked Dr. XXXXXXX who was great and reassuring. I am posted in Haiti, had sex about five weeks ago, and condom slipped. I was able to grab it without any difficulty (not sure if it was partially hanging out or barely inside her vagina) but either way it seems safe to assume that my exposure (if there was any) was brief at worst. Do you agree? My real question: she had an HIV test 10 days ago. It came back negative. What is your understanding of the reliability of HIV testing in Haiti? Recent research I have seen indicates it is quite excellent. However, I would appreciate your opinion. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Slip condom did not increase your HIV risk.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your follow up query.

Condom slipped, not broken, correct? Condom slip and withdrawal immediately did not increase the risk for HIV in anyway. It is almost a protective exposure. Nothing to worry.
Regarding her test report: The negative test done on 10 days back would not assure that she was HIV free. Her negative report conveys that she was HIV free up to 3 months prior to her test (That is window period for the test is up to 12 weeks. So if she had sex contacts recently or if she contracted the HIV infection within that 12 weeks, or the 9 days after the test she would be likely to be infectious). If she had stopped her sexual activities well 12 weeks prior to the test then the report could be reliable. Otherwise it has no value.
Dr S.Murugan

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

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (17 hours later)

Yes, it slipped and came all the way off -- it did not break. As noted, I was able to get hold of it without any trouble. I just am not sure whether it was slightly inside the opening to her vagina or hanging outside a bit. Am I correct that the condom would have been deeper inside if the exposure was more than brief? My other question was whether what I hear is correct -- that HIV testing in Haiti these days is highly accurate. Do you agree? Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
HIV test kits are highly reliable and sensitive up to 97-98%

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Slipped condom was handled with your fingers only (Whether it was fully inside or partially inside did not matter much). Then the risk for HIV is negligible.

I don't know much about Haiti. But the HIV test available globally in the market are of highly reliable and specific and sensitive up to 97% or above.
So you can get a very reliable result.
Dr S.Murugan

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T