Non Detectable Hiv Am I Still At Risk

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U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Role of STD Detection and Treatment in HIV Prevention

What is the link between STDs and HIV infection? How can STD treatment slow the spread of HIV infection? What are the implications for HIV prevention? Where can I get more information? References Testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be an effective tool in preventing the spread of HIV , the virus that causes AIDS. An understanding of the relationship between STDs and HIV infection can help in the...

Ask the Experts

Non-detectable does not equal Non-Infectious

Could you explain how being non-detectable would lessen being infectious? Also, is there a way to determine how much of a viral load there is in semen?...

Response from Andrew T. Pavia, M.D.

University of Utah, School of Medicine

This is an important issue. Treatment does not make people non infectious, even if their viral load is undetectable. It does, however, reduce the risk of transmission per exposure.Why? Well, there is a relationship between the amount of virus in the... Read more »

can virus load test detect non-B type HIVs?

I have very low CD4 count (234) and HIV symptoms and no HIV and anti-HIV can be detected by six month. I can't make an appointment with HIV doctors because of my negative status. All these tests were requested by me through ID doctor who is not...

Response from Gerald Pierone, M.D.

AIDS Research and Treatment Center of the Treasure Coast

The viral load test may not detect non-B virus, but the antibody test would. Many other processes may lower CD4+ lymphocyte counts and it does not sound like HIV is the culprit in your case. Follow up testing directed by the immunologist (or a... Read more »

HIV transmission from a non-detectable positive

I have heard some people with HIV referred to as being "non-detectable positive". Does this mean that people can be HIV positive but have such a low viral load that they test negative? If so, can such people transmit HIV? In other words,...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi, You are confusing two different tests here. The tests for detecting whether or not someone is HIV-positive (ELISA tests, antibody tests, confirmatory Western Blot tests) will always remain positive in a person infected with the virus. The... Read more »

Non-detectable and HIV test

I was recently visiting friends on vacation and all of us visited a health fair where free HIV test were being administered(those quick test that take less then 30 minutes). I am a healthy, HIV+, 41 year old male, with a non-detectable viral load....

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Yes. The test is looking for antibodies and not viral load.... Read more »

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Question on Antibody Detection

Posted by Anonymous, 5 Replies

Hello all. 14 weeks ago, I went on a reckless spree...I'm not sure what was going through my mind but I had unprotected receptive oral sex with three men over a period of a month. None of these men ejaculated in my mouth and I don't know their HIV... Read more »

can an HIV-1 test detect HIV-2?

Posted by Anonymous, 6 Replies

I had several ELISA HIV 1 tests all negative (thank God). But now I'm wondering about HIV 2. Can the HIV 1 test detect HIV 2?

Thanks Read more »

Non Risk Exposure Gave Me Symptoms After 10 Days?

Posted by WorriedWell, 2 Replies

HI GUYS!!!
WORRIED AGAIN..IF SOME ONE CAN TELL ME .. WITH MY RISK EXPOSURE OF KISSING A FEMALE OF UNKNOWN STATUS and PUTTING A BADAID on an open wound of a female of unknown status.. IS RISKY????IF I had only couple of 1/2 inch cracks due to dryness... Read more »

PCR not detecting all strains of HIV?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

As many worried persons, I took a PCR-RNA 4 weeks after my infection risk, to amend my fears. It came back negative. Although I should relax now, I'm still concerned, because I have read that all commercially available PCR-kits are just looking for... Read more »

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