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How fast are antibodies produced?
#227294 - 05/26/07 08:50 PM
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I have had unprotected sex with someone who is now experiencing early HIV symptoms (vomitting, numbness/tingling, thrush, herpes outbreaks). He was tested at the 3-week mark and 6-week mark after our sexual encounter, and results were negative both times. I know it takes 3-6 months for the body to produce antibodies.
My question is, what determines the rate at which the antibodies are produced? If you are a healthy person, does your body produce antibodies sooner rather than later?
I am very frigtened that I may have HIV now. Please advise.
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jambo
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this is what everyone seems to agree on...
12/13 weeks is conclusive (not six months), and a vast majority are pos by 6 weeks. maybe in the 95-99% range are pos by 6 weeks. so that is good reassurance in your case. depending on where you live and the type of tests used there (you can ask the place where the test was done) some even say 6weeks is conclusive in some areas, like MA.
symptoms are totally unreliable because all these symptoms can very easily be something else. if the symptoms are appearing now, after 6 weeks from potential exposure, it is deemed too late for hiv acute seroconversion.
so the odds are hugely in your favor.
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Thank you for the reply. I will know for sure next week. The waiting time is killing me. The guy I had the unprotected sex with is a very healthy person who never had any health issues for the past several years until just now. He began getting the symptoms right after we had sex. It's just very unusual they would be occurring now of all times.
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On average the body produces antibodies to HIV around 22 days after exposure. It does not take 6 month, much less 3 months for the body to produce antibodies to ANY illness it is fighting.
Over 95% percent of people that are infected will test postive by 6 weeks. The 3 months is the net used to catch everyone else, however if you look at replies over the years from the experts you will see that no one is seeing anyone test negative at 6 weeks and then postive at 3 months.
Your partner has every reason to believe he will continue to test negative.
You can not make decisions about sex based on how people look or what you think their overall health is. I'm very healthy. I've also had HIV for a number of years.
It's your responsibility to protect your own health by wearing a condom (or insisting on one being used) until such time as you enter a monogomous relationship and test together.
What I found most interesting was your stance that you are concerned that he gave you HIV because he started to have signs of what you call early HIV infection after having sex with you.
People might think he should be the one that's worried about you and maybe he is, since you mention him testing, but not you.
Just remember unprotected sex with someone infected doesn't always result in transmission, so unless you have tested you don't know anything about YOUR status. His negative just means he is negative. It doesn't mean that you are.
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i have read it can take up to a year that is how long they test in the medical field after a needle stick
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Thanks for the reply, I will be scheduling a test the minute business hours open on Tuesday. My partner's results will come back on Tues or Wed as well, and he will know for sure since he ordered the expensive test that looks for the HIV virus itself, not the antibodies. The thing is, I donated blood exactly a month before I had unprotected sex with him, and the blood was accepted.
The timeline goes like this: I started having unprotected sex with Partner A (not the one above) after he donated blood at around the same time I did, and who claims that he hasn't had sex for 6-8 months until he met me. Then I had sex a month after blood donation with Partner B who is now experiencing the symptoms. So unless Partner A is lying to me about donating blood or not having sex 3 months prior to blood donation, I could only have contracted it from Partner B who is experiencing the symptoms.
I've had risky sexual encounters in the past, but this nightmare I am living right now has cured me of my ways. I am never trusting anyone again until I see results on paper.
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jambo
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a few points
a. you need to test, not rely on your partners test since you have had more than 1 partner in the last few months.
b. someones looks wont tell you about hiv, it is another way to attach stigma to the pos folks. we need to understand this disease not stigmatize it.
all the best for the test results. i am sure you are ok
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I am definitely not trying to stigmatize the disease, that is the very last thing I want to do. In fact, I have an incredible amount of respect and admiration for those living with it. I am just so freaked out right now. My partner is 100% convinced that he has HIV. He calls me every so often to describe in vivid detail each new symptom he is experiencing, and then proceeds to accuse me of giving it to him and how I will die. I dread hearing my phone ring. How likely are they to give me the Oral Rapid test first thing tomorrow morning without an appointment?
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jambo
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never mind, i am sure you have a neg test result with you now. keep us informed.
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Thanks for the reassurance, but what makes you so sure?
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jambo
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hey relax you are ok. the reason i am sure is that usually people dont lie when asked (partner A), and partner B has tested 6 weeks after your incident. a 6wk test is a good indicator, according to the experts too. thats why. do let us know though.
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I got my test done today, and I am negative!! I will have Partner A get tested since I am still having sex with him, and then I'm going to get tested at the 3 month and 6 month mark, and I will be satisfied.
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