Hello,
Thank you for choosing DoctorSpring.
I have gone through your medical history and I really understand your concerns. Let approach the problem in reverse chronological order.
You are HIV negative on 21st Jan, that is 21, 20 weeks from first set of exposure. In addition there is Repeat negative + Low risk exposure. You have nothing to worry about the first set of exposure , you are clean as far as that is concerned.
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Now the last sexual exposure . This is also of a low risk exposure, No direct anal/ genital exposure. No active wounds or bleeds I assume . It is true that Herpes Zoster can occur in individuals with low or reduce immunity however the opposite is not always true. You can get zoster with a perfectly normal immune system. More over you go this infection within 15 days of exposure. This time is totally inadequate for the HIV virus to cause any immune deficit in your body anyway. And again - if there was such an immunodeficiency, the HIV test should have been positive for sure. (which was not).
And no this antiviral medications will NOT affect the HIV test results.
So putting all these factors together we can safely assume that you are HIV free. However for completion I would recommend 1 more HIV test after 6 weeks from now, just to be sure.
You can relax, you are HIV negative. And do make sure you are using condoms next time
Hope this helps
Feel free to ask followups
Thank you
Patient replied :
Thank you so much Dr. This thing really helped me ease my stress. I had read somewhere that some of these medicines do affect the results so was really worried.
But what I had read on internet, I understand one should not rely much on those, but it said that HIV test can be negative even in those whose immune System is severely weakened? Do you think that might be a reason for my result?
The question is, should I be worried after all? You know my medical condition, that's why.
Yes, HIV negative can be negative in induvidual who are severely immune deficient. This is very rare and not seem in clinical practice. But I am pretty sure that you do not have such an immune deficiency. With severe immune deficiency patients will be overwhelmed with infections and other complications. YOU DO NOT have this for sure.
There are no evidence at all to say you have HIV . Take my word, you can relax now and move on with your life.
Hope this helps
Feel free to ask followups
Thank you