By Dr.Pavia, Please answer. I know this is not the correct forum to send this, but you answered my last question and I trust your guidance. My last possible exposure was 1/17/01. 3/20/01(9weeks) gave blood: results: Antibody 1&2 negative, Nucleic Acid Testing (for RNA and DNA) negative, p24 positve with an indeterminate nuetralization (confirmatory test, thus they say probably false (+)). At 10 weeks 5 days Elisa (-), at 19 weeks home access (-). I now have started to feel throat congestion and noticed a 1 cm red raised spot with whitish center on my leg(could this be HIV related)? I am so scared of everthing, my Doctor started me on paxil and I am going to a counselor soon. I am waiting results of an elisa for 1&2(21 weeks).Have you seen anyone in your practice convert this late? Do I need to test again at 180 days? I don't know if I can handle the stress for that long- Would a DNAPCR finally confirm my negative status or is it to late for that? Please answer

Waiting for test results is very stressful. Hopefully, what you are going through will help re-inforce for others the consequences of taking occasional risks, even if you end up dodging the bullet. 3 months of sleepless nights can be pretty rough.

You sound like you are having a tough time coping with the uncertainty. Things actually sound pretty reassuring at this point. The spot on your leg does not sound like any HIV related lesion I can think of. By 9 weeks, virtually 100% of infected people will be both RNA and DNA PCR positive. In fact, more than 98% will be at least weakly positive on Elisa and Western blot. Odds are very, very good you are not infected. A negative antibody test at 21 weeks will pretty much close the deal. The party line is to retest at 6 months. In fact, being negative at 4 months and positive at 6 months is extraordinarily rare (although it has been reported). However, your negative PCR's are the clincher.

I think you and your doctor are on the right track with bringing in a counselor and considering medication. For many people, the anxiety of waiting for a test taps into other issues that need to be dealt with. That is why we get so many letters from people who are having trouble accepting negative test results. I am no shrink, but they tend to be the usual suspects - guilt, self re-crimination, issues about ones sexual behavior and sexuality.

Good luck, and keep doing what you are doing (minus the risky sex)

ATP