Hiv Pcr Test - How Quick Is The Turnaround?

[jbc291]

Hey all,

I had a protected encounter with a woman about three weeks ago. We used a condom for everything, and the only direct contact I had with her was some mouth-to-mouth kissing. At the time, I had maybe a cold sore or two - I don't remember (I know I shouldn't have kissed her, but I wasn't thinking). Anyway, I had a few things that made me worried I caught ARS (more cold sores on my mouth; a week after I got some red bumps on my feet that I thought were either sandfly bites or red ant bites; and two weeks after that I had a sore throat). Anyway, a few days ago I started thinking about why my throat had been "blocked" (it isn't blocked anymore), and I read up about ARS and started freaking out, even though - to my knowledge - the condom didn't break.

I went to the best hospital in town to get an HIV test. Unfortunately, they did not have the PCR test, only the western blot. I tested negative, but obviously the window is such that the reading may be false. I'm seriously thinking about going to Bangkok tomorrow morning to take a PCR test, mainly for peace of mind. The only problem is that I could only be in town until Monday morning (at latest) before I have to go back for work. Would I be able to receive my test results in time?

[Pushit]

7 Days if you can find a clinic with the facilities. Good Luck

[jbc291]

Thanks for the reply, Pushit. I'm thinking about flying out on Saturday and getting checked up at Bumrungrad, since (from what I read) they administer the PCR test. Do you (or any other people on this forum) know if the DUO test is available at any hospitals in Bangkok? From what I read this test is extremely accurate at 28 days.

[Sheryl]

Yes, the test is accurate. It is also labor intensive to do and involves the replication of small quantities of virus (if present) hence it does take time. 72 hours at the very least and that is if the hospital does it themselves.

From what you describe the chances of having your contacted HIV from that encounter are virtually nil. You really do not need the PCR, but if you feel you must for peace of mind, you may be able to get the doctor to emai the resulkt to you.

This "ARS" bit -- I see a lot of people worried because they developed flulike symptoms etc after a hughg risk encounter. In all my years working with countless people who actually had HIV, never met one who had experienced anything at all immediately post-exposure. It's in the textbooks, but seldom seen in practice. It is extremelyunlikely this had anything at all to do with your sexual encounter.

[wasabi]

I also think it's very very unlikely you caught HIV. I don't believe there are any known cases of catching HIV through kissing. The penis has receptor cells not present in the mouth which is why it's also low risk to get HIV through giving a blow job though there may be some known cases of this. I also don't believe saliva even when contacting mouth sores would be likely to transmit the virus. If you are at 3 weeks. I would wait 1 week and just get another western blot. This test detects HIV at 28 days in about 95% of cases. I sincerely don't think you need to be worried but continue to be careful by using condoms.

[jbc291]

Thanks for your replies, Sheryl & wasabi. I'm in BKK now; scheduled to meet with a doctor tomorrow. Only after making travel arrangements and all that, did I start to feel like I was simply overreacting to everything. I've felt tired this past week (and generally felt somewhat in a negative mood) but I think mulling over it a bit made me realize that this is probably psychosomatic more than anything else. Anyway, maybe after meeting with the doc I'll skip the PCR.

I guess word to wise (as long as I come out negative): if you're someone who gets worried about these sorts of things (as I do), definitely avoid indulging in some of Thailand's *seedier* nightlife, lest you end up freaking out and spending unnecessary money allaying those fears.

JBC

Edited August 28, 2010 by jbc291

[elliss]

I also think it's very very unlikely you caught HIV. I don't believe there are any known cases of catching HIV through kissing.

you can catch herpes , by kissing .

check he/she does not have a small mouth sore .

[jbc291]

Hey everyone,

I took the test and am happy to report that I'm in the clear. Clearly, I was overreacting based on my supposed "symptoms" and reading stuff online. The consultation + viral load test at Bumrungrad ran just under 6,000 baht , so it was cheaper than I expected it to be.

Most everything went smoothly (from scheduling an appointment online with an infectious diseases doctor, registering, seeing the doctor). I was especially pleased when I found out the viral load test results would be available in 24 hours, and that they were willing to either call or email the test results. I decided to have them email me; but for some reason the email that was supposed to arrive at 10AM didn't show up.

At noon I was panicking, so I called the hospital and was referred to the infectious diseases department. I got even more nervous when the secretary could not disclose the test results, all the while claiming that the email had been sent (It hadn't). She asked me to wait until tomorrow, and of course I'm freaking out - thinking something's wrong if she's not willing to disclose the results. Eventually, she relented after putting me on hold; and said that the results stated I was "less than 40".

Less than 40 what? I was freaking out; she told me to wait and then somehow - even though she claimed the doctor I met with was out of the office. She told me I was okay, but I doubted her. Eventually I got to talk to the doctor, and found out that 40 copies/mL is the most the test can detect, which means there's an infinitesimal chance I could have HIV. He told me I was fine.

As dumb and irrational it is, I was quite scared/nervous at various parts of this past week. If you are a hypochondriac and prone to worrying to death, I recommend that you DO NOT engage in these kinds of activities.

Between this past week and my qualms about the industry, I won't.

[rak sa_ngop]

As dumb and irrational it is, I was quite scared/nervous at various parts of this past week.

You might be interested to read the Sherlock Holmes story of "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier".

In this story a wounded soldier in the Boer war seeks sanctuary in an isolated building only to find out he has spent the night sleeping in a bed regularly used by leprosy victims. He returns to the UK only to develop the symptoms of leprosy. However smart thinking Sherlock brings over a leprosy specialist who diagnoses a less serious non-infectious skin disease, which was brought on by the fear of having picked up leprosy itself.

Sound familiar???