Expert: Terry B - 1/3/2007

Question
sorry for my poor english.ý
I had oral sex with woman and only recieved oral sex from her. I think to have ýprimaery sympton in 4 week after expesure, I have elisa test after 8 week, that was ýnegative, my sex partner 5 mounth after expesure had test, I dont what test elisa or ýP24, in the result write:ý
Serum HIV-mix (ELISA).ý
Do you think that I must retest?ý


Answer
Dear Mostafa:

Peace.  Your English is fine but I don't understand the "y" at the end of your questions.  If you were exposed to HIV, that is, if your partner was infected as confirmed by ELISA and Western Blot, an eight week test is of minimal value.

I will try to explain some things in English that might help you the testing processes to which you referred:

1) The p-24 antigen test has a 7-10% chance of showing a false positive - meaning it might indicate possible HIV when none exists.
2) The ELISA test screens for antibodies to HIV, is most accurate six months after exposure, but identifies antibodies of HIV an those CLOSE to HIV antibodies.  
3) The Western Blot test is used on positive ELISA samples to determine if it is HIV antibody or something CLOSE to it.  IF the Western Blot is negative, there is no HIV.

I hope this gives you the information you need.  If I were you, I would retest six months after your exposure - the difference is really whether your own fluids (blood, semen) are infected at this point, and if you are sexually active, you should be protecting yourself and others from those fluids (blood, semen, breastmilk, vaginal secretions) anyway.

Peace.

Terry