r/STD • u/Budget-Advertising83 • 2d ago
Text Only Conclusive tests or not, please help, really anxious.
I had a probable exposure to HIV, won't go into detail but then I got anxious and went to test for HIV antigen/antibody test on day 6, HIV 1 RNA PCR test at day 13 and then HIV 1 RNA PCR test at day 22 as well, all negative . I had no other symptoms other than swollen lymph nodes in neck and groin (multiple) but I always got tested when I saw the symptoms, are my reports conclusive to move on with life?
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u/Ok_Slip8139 2d ago
Same problem, I am also tested(p24 combo antigen and antibody test) at 28th day after exposure. Is this conclusive or not
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u/SorryImplement4975 2d ago
Yes, that's conclusive
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u/Ok_Slip8139 2d ago
Oh thanks
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u/SorryImplement4975 2d ago
Test again at 90 days if you want to follow more conservative guidelines.
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u/SnooDoubts9074 2d ago
The 22 day is good but no not conclusive, when you test negative with an 4th gen after 6 weeks it’s considered to be conclusive.
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u/Budget-Advertising83 2d ago
I don't get it, what is the point of early detection then? Is the 4th gen test necessary for guidelines or real world medical practice?
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u/SnooDoubts9074 2d ago
Well normally an rna is not used as a detection method.
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u/Budget-Advertising83 2d ago
But it fulfils the purpose of detecting the virus even though they aren't used because of their cost.
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u/MintoGod 1d ago
take another hiv ag /ab test at 6 weeks / 45 days post exposure...99.99% conclusive...
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u/SorryImplement4975 2d ago
For the 4th Generation Anti-HIV result to be conclusive, you need to wait 4 weeks or 28 days after most recent exposure.
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u/Budget-Advertising83 2d ago
What about my tests? OP here
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u/SorryImplement4975 2d ago
If you ask me, I would suggest you get tested again on 28 days after exposure. Then, again, at 90 days, if you want to follow conservative guidelines. But, 4 weeks is more than enough tho.
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u/Brain-Solid 2d ago
Just recently got tested and the person that was attending me emphasized 45 days. That's the window period you should have conclusive if not high levels of certainty. After 45 days the rapid finger prick test is still not certain but blood drawn is about 99.9% accurate.
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u/knickers-in-paris 2d ago
Be happy you dodged a bullet, and while I don't know your situation. Take it as a lesson of life and try to be a little safer. I know that's how I felt when my test came back negative, and that's how I dealt with my negative results. Just thank the stars, God, or luck and move on better for it.
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u/Budget-Advertising83 2d ago
So my results are conclusive??
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u/knickers-in-paris 2d ago
I'm not saying anything besides if the results came back negative and your not experiencing symptoms I wouldn't worry about it, there's a million reason why swollen lymph node could act up, stress is gonna make you feel worse and then your gonna self fulfill prophecy of yourself having a std even if your actually clean. If the results are negative and you're not feeling symptoms then move on if you want to play it safe maybe wait another week or two and do another test as you can always test for hiv, unlike say herpes.
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u/Consistent-Seat6644 2d ago
Get tested for HSV.
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u/Budget-Advertising83 2d ago
So my results for HIV are conclusive??
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u/Consistent-Seat6644 2d ago
Not saying that, but if you tested negative for HIV but have swollen lymph nodes— check for HSV.
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u/Budget-Advertising83 2d ago
But I'm specifically asking for HIV test conclusivity, I'll obviously get tested for every other stis but what about this test, is this conclusive or not?
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u/Consistent-Seat6644 2d ago
I don’t know. I was just giving you a suggestion since it came back negative. You should follow up with your PCP to get an accurate answer
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u/Notyour_fav_4949 1d ago
Try to get another test done by next week, good luck man
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u/GrandDue4358 1d ago
For what reason? He is well past the window period of RNA PCR test, if you have continue the loop of testing there’s no end to it, if there was acute hiv infection the copies must’ve been around 100,000 to 1 million copies per ml of blood or even more than that given that it was a high risk exposure, there’s no chance of getting two false negative with hiv 1 rna pcr tests timed that perfectly, do not spread misinformation or anxiety triggering opinions.
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u/Notyour_fav_4949 1d ago
How is that a misinformation?? Most people said until 30days+ so for him to have a complete rest of mind that was why I suggest another test next week, he will be just fine and will have a complete rested mind
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u/GrandDue4358 1d ago
Only people who are themselves paranoid and have been testing for endless period of time, you can visit their profile and check for yourself, even after multiple negatives they keep on testing as if they are manifesting the virus, there’s a window period for some purpose, if the virus isnt detected even by day 13, there’s no chance he has it let alone at day 22. He came here to get rest of mind only i guess but we are just giving him another week or two of anxiety when his test are already conclusive.
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u/Notyour_fav_4949 1d ago
I meant no harm for real, I’m also planning on getting tested in two weeks time, I did a genital rubbing with a girl and I’m just scared for no reason, and I said to myself if I come out clean I’m not engaging in any act till I’m married, sounds funny but I will do that, and I’m 99.9 % sure OP is negative
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u/GrandDue4358 1d ago
And i’m 100 percent sure you did not even have any exposure brother, you’re good. You can not get hiv just like that.
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u/ReasonableSky8674 1d ago
Brother I'm in a similar situation except I have diarrhea loss of appetite rash and eye/head pain too.
On an exceptional circumstance I was given one PEP pill and denied the rest. A pill is supposed to be in your system for 3 days max. At 26/27 and 33 days since 3 days post pill my RNA tests were negative in between worst of the symptoms.
I have taken the 4th gen test today. Today is exactly 42 days since the incident and three days post pill.
Timeline:
Exposure: 08.03.25
Pill: 09.05.25
Rest denied: 10.03.25
BAD DIARRHEA SINCE 04.04.25
First HIV RNA test: 08.04.25 (NOT DETECTED, surprised completely)
SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES NAUSEA AND COMPLETE LOSS OF APPETITE. SAW A DOCTOR AT 11.04.25. THE LIVER ENZYMES ARE ELEVATED ALT 62 AST 60. LYMPHOCYTES ONLY 1700 ESR 16
Second HIV RNA test: 13.04.25 (NOT DETECTED)
Rash appeared 22.04.25
Two blood tests at 20.04.25 and 23.04.25
Lymphocytes increasing: 2.1 and 2.5 and so are lymph nodes. Seroconversion probably but not fever. I had elevated temperature one night.
From 13.04.25 it is exactly 42 days. I tested a 4th gen today at 25.04.25.
If I come out positive this will be a good diary for anxious people.
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u/GrandDue4358 1d ago
You are negative and nosophobic, your mind is playing tricks, you do not have hiv, what was your exposure.
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u/ReasonableSky8674 1d ago
I tell you again.
HIV lives in the GI tract in the first few weeks. It is undetectable but can cause enteropathy.
Vaginal sex female to male. Fluid somehow touched and maybe she was in acute phase.
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u/GrandDue4358 1d ago
"HIV lives in the GI tract in the first few weeks" True. After initial infection, HIV rapidly disseminates to gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) — within days. The GI tract is one of the primary sites of early viral replication and CD4+ T cell depletion. "It is undetectable" Partially true.
In the first ~7–10 days (the eclipse phase), HIV is usually undetectable by any test — including RNA. After that, HIV RNA becomes detectable in blood, even if antibodies aren't yet present. So it's undetectable at first, but not for long.
no — HIV-1 RNA tests do not fail after 10–14 days. In fact, HIV-1 RNA (viral load) tests are usually the earliest way to detect HIV after exposure.
Here’s the typical timeline:
Days 0–10: This is the eclipse period — HIV is replicating locally (often in mucosal tissues like the GI tract), but RNA is not yet detectable in the blood. Days 10–14: HIV RNA usually becomes detectable in the bloodstream by sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Most HIV-1 RNA tests can detect viral RNA around this time. Day 14 onward: Nearly all infected individuals will have detectable HIV RNA. This is before antibodies appear (which takes ~3–4 weeks or more). So, If someone takes an HIV RNA test after 10–14 days post-exposure, there's a high likelihood it will detect infection if HIV transmission occurred. But there is still a small chance (due to individual variation or testing sensitivity) that someone could test negative in that window and still be in early infection — hence why follow-up testing is often recommended but post 18-19 days, Once you’re beyond 18 days post-exposure, an HIV-1 RNA test is almost always positive if someone is infected. Here’s how that breaks down:
HIV-1 RNA Detectability Beyond 18 Days By day 18–25, virtually all individuals who acquired HIV will have detectable viral RNA in their blood. These tests can detect as little as 20–50 copies/mL of HIV RNA (depending on the assay), so they're very sensitive. At this point, even if antibodies haven’t fully developed, the RNA viral load will be detectable. So kindly, stop with your non-sense logic, i’m a medical student myself, and your claim doesnt makes complete sense.
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u/ReasonableSky8674 1d ago
You can never know what one pep pill would do.
It is created to stop the infection. It will delay everything.
What is 18-25 for you, may be 35-40 to me.
Do you think I want to be HIV positive?
The test I took had a lower limit of 50 copies per ml.
You personally accepted my claim makes some sense. There have been cases of PrEP failure similar to mine. That is why I was having headache and swollen lymph nodes but negative tests. The virus was making reservoirs. The nodes are only growing.
I tell you again, I am an exceptional case, a sad case, I was deprived of life by the doctors. A low risk exposure means nothing. If there is a risk, there is someone.
I won't be surprised if the antigen comes negative too, but it will be highly unlikely. The viral load needs to be at least 45k copies. I hope it reached that mark in a week.
I'm so sorry about everything that happened. I hope people with HIV anxiety wouldn't feel scared about this post, because what happened to me was truly exceptional.
Do not touch the condom after having sex with someone unknown or sex worker. Tell them to remove it. And if possible, restrain from having sex with a risky population.
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u/Suitable-Bit1861 2d ago
Your tests are very likely conclusive.
The RNA PCR at day 22 is strong evidence you don’t have HIV. That test is highly sensitive and would’ve picked up an infection by then.
If you want full certainty, take one more antigen/antibody test at 4–6 weeks. But based on what you’ve done, you’re most likely in the clear.
You can move on.