Can you access my risk? 4.5 weeks ago, things got out of control at a strip club in Michigan and I received oral sex from two strippers and also fingered them and made out with them. I’m pretty sure I’m not at too much of risk, but could you give me your opinion on what my risk is? And I have one other question. Is a 13 week test 100% conclusive as I plan to take one just to be sure. I have considered a DNA PCR test but I have read on Med Help that the test in not very accurate.
Dear Buddy, let’s start with your risk of contacting a sexually transmitted disease.
As you can imagine, many of our callers tend to be fixated on HIV infection. While we understand this, we want you to be careful not to overlook other infections that could be more likely from this exposure. If the oral sex was unprotected fellatio, then you should consider testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Your risk involves exposure to saliva, vaginal secretions, and skin to skin exposure. Skin to skin exposure can result in a herpes or syphilis infection, as well as molluscum contagiosum, scabies, pubic lice and multiple other infections. All of these infections are probably more likely than man HIV infection. It is true that something like HIV can be transmitted through exposure to vaginal secretions, but the skin needs to be somehow compromised. For many, early exposure antigen testing is a great way to relieve anxiety shortly after a potential exposure. The HIV DNA PCR is a great option for people that want to avoid waiting 3 months to know their HIV status.
You mentioned that you read that the test is not very accurate, but you did not mention why they said that. Many places say that the test is not used for diagnostic procedures. This is true. Although this holds true for the antibody test as well. In order to DIAGNOSE HIV, one must test positive on the confirmatory western blot, no matter which screening test is performed (HIV DNA PCR or HIV ELISA). Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a nobel prize winning technology, and as with any lab testing further testing may be needed to confirm a positive lab result. To address any specific concerns about the DNA PCR, we encourage you to call one of our test experts at 866-926-4669.
