Hey guys, It' Koolman here back after a slight layoff, anyways just wanted to update the experts that my 4.5 month test was Negative after my encounter which included unprotected Oral, & protected vaginal, mY main source of worry really was that she removed the condom with her fingers & with the same condoms touched the head of my penis...do u think there was a realistic chance of infection.....wanna reiterate that the post 4month test was Negative..(Elisa).

Now i had a technical question....& i hope i dun sound too stupid???

When a Hiv test was done.....the result read that HIV 1 & 2 antibodies were not detected in the given sample...(that was my blood sample)

What i wanted to know is whether it means Negative for the entire blood stream in our body or whether HIV could hide somewhere else in the blood or other body fluids???

Once antibodies are produced are they observed freely in the bloodstream???

Please do mention ur take on this!

Thanx guys!!

Koolman

Well, with regards to your sample and the resulting negative test, you need to be very confident that a negative test is, for the most part, a negative test. If you think that it was just that sample that somehow managed to escape detection while, if they tested another blood sample, in another arm for example, it's just not the way that hematology works. Do you understand? That is, for the purposes of diagnosing the illness, a blood samples tested within the appropraite window period is adequate for those purposes.

It has been discerned, however, that HIV appears to 'hide' in the intestines where it does major damage in the immune system. THis is not to say that your test may be positive because the virus was hiding in the intestine. It only means that people who are on HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy), scientists have learned, will not erradicate the virus because of the discovery of HIV hiding in the intestine. Have I totally confused you, now? chris

Oh well not really u haven't confused me....good to know that hematology doesn't work that way...

Well the second part was a little tough though..do u mean that IN people undergoing HAART, there a chance that hiv could escape the sample???

well i'm close to the 6 month mark now, i plan to just do one more test to cool my nerves.....will the 6 month test rest assure me of a final & conclusive negative result????

No, it doesn't escape the sample because once you've tested positive, then teh treatment can begin (if it is the physician's plan, and your numbers indicated that treatment options should be considered). However, becuase HAART is working to reduce replication of the virus in t-cells, the latest is that HIV can "hides" in the intestine. If you 'google': "HIV in the intestines" then there are articles from JAMA and other sources that can explain it so much better than I.

Yes, even the three month test is usually conclusive and most people seem to opt for a 6 month test for reassurance. chris

Thanx buddy, i'l catch up on that article....asap.....thanx for the reassurance..will keep u updated..

Take care!

Koolman!