The quote below is from a reply posted April 7, 2003: "Negative antibody tests despite convincing medical evidence that HIV infection exists (after having a HIGH risk exposure and consultation with a medical expert) can be addressed by your doctor with alternative testing.

RMK"

What qualifies as "convincing medical evidence" in your mind or as the CDC has described it, "clinical history". I know that you're trying to include the 0.01 [or whatever] that don't test positive even after 6 months, but what would show up? All the info I see speaks of HIV going asymptomatic for 6-8 years in most cases following serconversion. What, besides low CD4 counts (and even that at such an early point?), would show up.

I'm concerned because even after negative testing at 24.5 weeks, I continue to have ARS-like symptoms (low-grade fever, swollen neck glands, fatigue, etc) - 8 months after possible exposure. The symptoms have endured for 7 months and the doctor can't find anything else.

A doctor concerned about HIV infection despite negative antibody tests could conduct PCR-RNA testing to detect the presence of virus. If no virus is detected, you are HIV negative.

RMK