HIV exposure, PCR test - HIV Prevention Message Board

07-25-2003, 09:52 AM

I was exposed to HIV through unprotected vaginal sex 11 weeks ago. I had negative ELISA and PCR tests at 6 and 9 weeks. I was just tested again yesterday at the health department, but the results take two weeks. Everybody has a different story on the PCR test. The CDC states that they don't recommend it because there is a high incidence of false negatives, as well as false positives. I haven't seen any info about false negatives. The health department states that I cannot consider myself HIV negative until after a negative 12 week antibody test - but they do PCR testing - why? I was asymptomatic until about 2 weeks ago when I started noticing a sore throat with slightly tender lymph nodes in my neck...no fever...no other lymph nodes swollen. These are pretty vague symptoms and they seem to come and go. I want to get on with my life. The last 6 weeks have been hell (after finding out he was HIV+.) Does anyone here know how likely it is to have primary infection symptoms starting at 9 weeks after exposure? How likely is it to have a sore throat and nothing else? Are there any professional HIV experts on this message board or are we all lay people?

Jide · 07-25-2003, 10:08 AM

Seroconversion usually appears 2 to 4 weeks after infection (average time to seroconvert is 21.5 days) and most infected people are showing positive results after one month. So you should be safe, as you tested neg at week 9. Your sore throat is certainly related to anxiety.