I read all your posts. You are real the expert and have kind heart to help people.You may have thousands posts needed to response, please help me this. Four months ago, I have exposure after failed protection during vaginal sex with my girlfriend. Two days later, I had symptom which was the ulcer appeared in the corner of my mouth and lymph nodes became swollen at the same side. I was so anxiious about that. I got many symptoms since that accident. I had phargtitis,some dry cough, abdominal pain, some diarrhea, 99.3 degree temperature, joint pain and dry mouth. Eight pounds weight loss and sometime night sweating. I did the following test: 25th day, RNA loading bDNA 3, CD4/CD8 counts,and EIA,showed less 75 copies, ratio(780/570),undectable. 70th day,RNA loading,EIA,still all negative. At 3th month, I asked my girlfriend tested using Home Access kit(approved by FDA) was negative. Since that accident happened, I did not have any sex and risk.I did western bolt at 12th week,showed negative. I did EIA at 3th month,also unreactive. At 4th month, I changed lab study(from Quest Diagnosis to Labcorp), I did DNA PCR, HIV1/2 Elisa and western blot(HIV1),all showed negative.Four times CBC and liver funtion, all show normal. But my smyptom never go away. I got two times rash in the face.Also I caught herpes and EBV from this exposure by test antibody at 70th day. I did not have herpes and EBV before. All other STDs were negative. Two infection doctors told me I do not have. Does I get subtype which can not be tested now like subtype O? Does I become positive in 6th month? Does I need continue to test? I think I may have lupus caused by anxiety and depression, I will test ANA.But first I hope I can rule out the infection. I really appreciate you take time to answer me!

I can see how anxious you are. You have done all the testing you need to do for HIV from that exposure. Since you have done viral loads you should have had detecable viral loads by now if you were infected. The Elsa can take longer, but the viral loads would have been positive by now. The bDNA test would pick up the most common non-B subtype viruses in the US, Europe and Australia. Your initial symptoms sound like herpes simplex, which can relaspe and persist for awhile, especially after it is first contracted. Your subsequent conversion on the blod tests supports that. I do not recommend further testing for HIV from that exposure. You should use condoms to protect yourself in the future.

Good luck,

Joe