Hiv Test Advice Please!

[jimmyboy123]

Ok 8 years ago when i was a student in the US i put myself at very high risk of hiv infection one time whilst young stupid and drunk.
I had what i thought was acute retroviral infection which people report during initial infection.
I tested in the US at 8 weeks negative and did the home access test at 16 weeks also negative.
Ever since then i've had a funny rash on the palm of my hands which i honestly thought must be hiv infection.
Now 8 years later back in the uk i got impetigo and started to feel really unwell.

I feared that i had symptomatic hiv infection and went to my local GUM Clinic for a full std check.

Everything came back negative including hiv.
So now i've been panicing that for some reason the blood test got messed up, i even went back to speak to the doctor that said the results were conclusive and there is no need to test again after all this time.

Does anyone know if there has ever been false negatives after 8 years since exposure?
Is it possible that the gum clinic messed up my blood etc?

Cheers you guys, especially anyone in uk who has used nhs gum clinics ??

 

[KaraBulut]

The screening test for HIV is set with a sensitivity threshold that favors false positives. That is why there is a second form of test done on all positives on the screening test.

In other words, you were lucky and you did not get exposed to HIV during your high risk period.

So, that leaves us with dealing with why you're having so much anxiety over something that happened in the distant past?

 

[Seasoned]

You're fine, but get help for anxiety issues if needed.

 

[jimmyboy123]

I know you're right guys! When i went back to the doctors today asking for another test she said no and said i need some counselling to put this to bed before it eats me up.

The thing that's making me think there was a mistake is remembering the illness soon after what happened and the rash on the palm of my hands which i've had ever since.

The std doctor has said it is not from hiv as i'm definitely negative so i have to go to my doctor now.

Still losing my mind though as i honestly can't think of anything else it can be.

 

[racer2438]

you may give your self false symptoms by just the anexity, and stress. You need to relax and get some help if you feel you must, but a good vacations to unwind and get your life back in perspective may be in order for you.

as if you dont this will eat you alive and and you wont be able to form any relationships and end up living a very lonely world.

and life is to short for that.

just becareful from now on and relax...

 

[KaraBulut]

When i went back to the doctors today asking for another test she said no and said i need some counselling to put this to bed before it eats me up.

She's giving you sound advice.

Take it.

 

[allangering]

HIV test, the test results shows that you are not HIV positive, advice will be provided on how to avoid contacting HIV in the future. If test results show you do are HIV positive, you can get medical help straightaway to help you:

stay healthy longer.
avoid getting some illnesses caused by HIV.
receive early treatment for illnesses that do occur.

Testing for HIV is the only way to know if you are HIV positive or HIV negative, testing is the first step to getting medical care, counselling, and support if you need it.
__________________
Get Your 24 Hour Yeast Infection Cure Here | Click Here For Natural Genital Warts Cure

 

[IANSAND]

Honestly, I wouldn't doubt that your stress over worrying about contracting HIV gave you the rash. But you should still have it checked out. You're almost manic in proving that ALL of your negative results are fake or from the wrong person. Maybe you need to seek professional help in dealing with NOT having HIV. I wouldn't doubt either that for the past decade, you've worried about this in the back of your mind. Drop it and be thankful that your tests, all of your tests, have come back negative. Cherish your life, man.

 

[GM1985]

This isn't meant to sound horrible or morbid but if you were infected by HIV eight years ago and didn't have any treatment, you would have died a long time ago!

As stated above ELISA methods are used to detect the HIV Antibody within your system, Negative means that you have no Antibodies, therefore you have not been subjected to the virus.

Positive would mean that Antibodies were detected. However due to the False Positive occurance (also stated above), a secondary test called the Western blot test is performed to confirm the presence of HIV Proteins within your sample. This uses specific Antibodies to the HIV viral proteins and is very specific.

If you were HIV positive after 8 years, and by some miracle, you survived asymptomatically for that period, these tests would definetly detect the infection.

The area that I am studying right now and in past years includes the HIV virus and diagnostic methods so I hope this and everyone elses comments help ease your mind somewhat. I myself have been in this position and although my brain thought things through logically, there was still a seed of doubt placed, but with the tests you've been through, the seed should have been disposed.

 

[jimmyboy123]

Thank you gm, and everyone else for their comments. The test i had was the 4th generation test.

Unfortunately my brain still has that seed of doubt, especially as people can remain asymptomatic for up to 10 years before the onset of symptoms. I know that i need to listen to the doctors. Just can't stop worrying that i got a false negative!

Even though all the doctors and other people i have spoken to have told me this is completely unfounded.

I went to my general doctors and had blood tests and my white blood cell count and platelet counts etc were normal, and i think that they'd be slightly out if i'd had it for 8.5 years.

Just a couple of my liver enzymes are slightly low, but nothing to worry about he said, cheers.