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Expert: Terry B - 12/28/2006


Question
Hi Doc,

One of myfriend had unprotected sex on Oct 4.He later on got some blisters on his genital and complains of fatigue. He got P24 and HIV-1 and HIV-2 test done at 32 days after the exposure and they all were negative.
We are trying to convince him for the 3 mon test but he is too scared to go for it. My questions are
1. How assuring are his test result.
2. Do you think he can rely on these results.

Thanks


Answer
Dear Sudha:

Peace.  I get called "Doc" because I am a former corpsman and a doctoral student, but please don't think I am an MD.  I am just a Master of Public Health with lots of experience in HIV/AIDS.

Regarding your friend - the p-24 antigen test at 32 days is most prone to false positives (meaning 7-9% of the time it says HIV positive when actually negative)- not false negatives; what this means in testing terminology is that:

Your friend's results - not being infected with HIV - are reliable.  A three month and six month antibody test would confirm this, of course, but I think he can proceed with some assurance he is not infected with HIV.

On the other hand, there are other infectious diseases and sexually transmitted infections out there - please have him see someone about the genital blistering.  

I hope this helps.

Terry

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Terry B

Expertise

Help in assessing personal and professional risk of HIV transmission; tips in teaching about HIV/AIDS; cultural competency for teaching about HIV/AIDS in Catholic settings; considerations in US and overseas HIV/AIDS programs and education for health and other professionals. Specific questions about treatment should be referred to your health provider; opinions and information offered are not meant to replace medical advice

Experience

Seven years with academic medical center and national AIDS education and training center, seven subsequent years with focus on international HIV/AIDS in East and South Africa. Former clinician, bioethics preceptor at an academic medical center and presenter in wide range of fora including international AIDS conference.

Organizations
Disabled American Veterans American Public Health Association MENSA AA

Publications
Human Variety, EC Sociological Society Proceedings of the International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa "HIV and Primary Care"

Education/Credentials
BS Psychology MPH Master of Public Health PhD studies underway

Awards and Honors
Naval School of Health Sciences, Hospital Corps with Highest Honors, Neuropsychiatry with Honors and High Distinction

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