Dr Holodniy

For a period of 3months at the end of 1996 I put myself at what I would consider high risk when I was working in Africa.(sexual contact).

Since then I have had several medicals over the last two years both for life insurance and work .Blood samples were taken at all of them.

I thought that a HIV test would have been standard practice for these medicals. My friend says no as an HIV test is too complicated and expensive.

I am now expericencing all the flu type symtoms associated with HIV, your advice will be greatly appreciated

It's interesting that an HIV antibody test was not performed when you were applying for life insurance. I just did the same thing and had to have the test performed. Test which measure HIV antibodys in the blood are relatively inexpensive. Tests which measure the amount of virus (viral load tests) are much more expensive. If your only potential exposure to HIV was late 1996, it would be unlikely, but not impossible that the symptoms you are experiencing now are related to acute HIV infection. Infection and symptoms, usually occur days to a few weeks after exposure. However, if you have not had an HIV test since your return, and/or you may have had a subsequent exposure, I would strongly encourage you to have an HIV test. If the HIV antibody test is negative, you may want to have it repeated in 2-3 months. Alternatively, a HIV viral load (which is more sensitive in early infection), may be the better test.

MH