Expert: Terry B - 1/27/2007

Question
hi, ive got a follow up question. so for me being a healthy 22 male, and taking a test 4 months and 5  in a half months after potential exposure to HIV,. both tests came back negative. i should have nothing to worry about? there wouldnt be a reason to retest would there? besides peace of mind? and also, i think ive asked you this once before. what if you have a little blood in your mouth, while you made out with someone, could someone spread it that way?very little like a drop.  thanks ! bye
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
in what cases would it take longer then 4-6 months for hiv antibodies to be detected on a lab test?
-----Answer-----
Dear Wes:

Peace.  At six months almost everyone who is infected will produce sufficient antibody to react to antibody testing.  Some very rare cases may occur in individuals with idiopathic responses to HIV, or others where the immune system is unable to manufacture antibody to HIV.

Hope this helps.

Terry

Answer
Dear Wes:

Again, peace.  As I mentioned earlier, six months is the optimal time for ELISA testing because almost everyone infected will test positive at that point; this doesn't mean at 5.5 months negative results aren't accurate.  As for visible blood, it is a risk even in the mouth, but a very low one.  Use a risk assessment formula of route (bloodstream to bloodstream being highest risk), frequency, amount - of exposure to fluids in calculating HIV transmission risk.  All seem low in the case you describe.

Be well.

Terry