SmartSex Resource logoSmartSexResource logo with white letters

A service provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control

A service provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control

SmartSex Resource logoSmartSexResource logo with white letters
Search
Menu
Close

Search

Home / Answered Questions / Hey again. I had a hiv test again at 19 weeks not in Canada . The doctor told me is a 4th generation hiv test that looks both ag and ab . The guy i slept more than 30 times tested positive and yes he is confirmed . He did not know he was pos and more likely he was infected 4 – 5 months before he slept with me . I am scared even after my superfluous hiv negative tests . Can it be any chance i am hiv + ? Or my 7 duo negative tests rule out hiv 1 and hiv 2 ? Will a RNA be useful ? They told me that hiv 1 is ruled out since no ag/ab what about hiv 2 ? What is window period for it ? i read rna can fail to detect hiv-2 . i did not travel in africa and he was not african however i am scared and i do not have any contact with that guy anymore to ask what hiv test he had . i am female and had unprotected vaginal sex . Can i put an end to this or must i test again at 24 weeks ? What are my chances to test + ?

Hey again. I had a hiv test again at 19 weeks not in Canada . The doctor told me is a 4th generation hiv test that looks both ag and ab . The guy i slept more than 30 times tested positive and yes he is confirmed . He did not know he was pos and more likely he was infected 4 – 5 months before he slept with me . I am scared even after my superfluous hiv negative tests . Can it be any chance i am hiv + ? Or my 7 duo negative tests rule out hiv 1 and hiv 2 ? Will a RNA be useful ? They told me that hiv 1 is ruled out since no ag/ab what about hiv 2 ? What is window period for it ? i read rna can fail to detect hiv-2 . i did not travel in africa and he was not african however i am scared and i do not have any contact with that guy anymore to ask what hiv test he had . i am female and had unprotected vaginal sex . Can i put an end to this or must i test again at 24 weeks ? What are my chances to test + ?

Hi

The 4th generation HIV test we use in BC Canada checks for both HIV-1 and HIV-2. This test is 95% accurate by 6 weeks and would give you a final result by 3 months. If you used our test we would say that you don’t have HIV given a negative test at 19 weeks. I would just ask the people who did your testing for the window period of the test they used. I would be surprised if it is very different than the 4th generation test we use.

I have met some people over the years that have had similar experience to you. It is never 100% that someone will get HIV the first time they have unprotected vaginal sex. For example as a approx figure some studies have shown that the chance of a woman getting HIV from a man with unprotected vaginal sex is about 1 in 1000. There are many different things that can affect this number for example if the man has acute HIV the chance will be much higher or if he is on HIV medication the chance will be much lower. The number can also change from person to person as everyone’s genetics and body is a bit different. It can also change from each individual sex act for example if he didn’t ejaculate when you had sex one time.

As you can see it is never 100% that HIV will pass to someone and there are many things that can make it easier or less likely to pass to you. We do know that over time HIV can pass easily when having unprotected vaginal sex with someone who is not taking HIV medication.

I know it can be hard to believe that you tested negative after having sex more than 30 times. I have met clients who have also been lucky and tested negative to HIV after being with a partner for several months and people who have been unlucky were it seems they had HIV passed to them after having sex only a few times. Just be careful you don’t think it is hard for you to get HIV. I have had some clients that were lucky the first time but unlucky another time.

It can sometimes be hard to believe the information when it seems impossible to be so lucky. I would confirm the window period for your test with the health providers who did the test for you. If after this you still find it is playing on your mind I would talk with the health care providers to see if they have any counselling services available for you to see. It is common for people who have been close to potential accidents to have concerns with what they are thinking or feeling. If you find this is happening to you a counselor can help people with these thoughts and feelings.

In regard to the different types of HIV and if the test would pick it up, I find that they are always updating HIV tests to make sure they do not miss anything. Also if the person who tested positive to HIV lives in the same district or country as you, the test that picked it up in them would pick it up in you if it had passed.

Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more information.

Health Nurse

For other readers, please feel free to leave a comment, or let us know if this was helpful.

This answer was posted on October 28, 2015.