Full STI Screening

sorryschmorry

Hi all,

Im an absolute paranoid android. Yesterday i went to a highly reputable sti clinic, for a full screening including hiv which i have been freaking out about for the past three months. I have had so called risky behaviour in the past (unprotected sex) but ive been having irrational worry about hiv, so i opted for a rapid test for that as part of the screening. He drew blood from my arm and used a drop of that for this rapid test (uni-gold hiv 1/2 rapid test).

After ten minutes or so the test came back negative, i was so relieved. I should mention, it was six months since my last sexual encounter so the test was conclusive apparently. He said he never has had a problem with these tests but he sends blood off to the hospital to be checked there as well for hiv again and syphillus and hep etc. As i left i started to feel a bit panicky, thinking what if the test from the hospital comes back positive for hiv? What if my rapid test was faulty or not done properly? What if i have late stage hiv or have not shown anti-bodies yet?

I went upstairs and when i came down ive missed a call from a blocked number, and now ive convinced myself it was the doctor and that the hospital has already been in touch to say it was a false negative and that they have found i have aids or some different strain of hiv that the test couldnt pick up.

Does anyone know if after six months i could get a false negative and if a doctor would get results the day after taking bloods and ring on a blocked number and not leave a message? or is what im thinking mental, and that there is no way my result was wrong?

Mr. Loverman

Your problem is psychological, not STI related.

It is sooooooooooooo unlikely you are HIV+, espcially if you don't have gay sex or share needles.

Stop worrying, start living!

sorryschmorry

I know its psychological and if i get through this and next week when i phone for results and everything is clear i fully intend to seek help.

I was actually looking for factual info though, as in would a false negative on a hiv rapid test ever happen after six months? Would a doctor call once on a blocked number and not leave a message? Would the hospital have results of tests the day after the doctor sent blood tests?

If you or anyone could help with this that would be great.

LenaClaire

The hospital or doctor would definitely leave a message asking you to return the call. The rapid tests have a very low failure rate and your doctor is just being very cautious (this is a good thing for the minuscule percentage chance there was in issue with the rapid test).

Do not worry

Mr. Loverman

It takes at least one week (normally two weeks) to get the results of blood tests.

The missed call wasn't your doctor calling to say you are HIV+.

The only reason I can imagine a doctor calling on a blocked number is if it was from their private mobile phone. I can't see any reason why this doctor would use a private phone, especially since it was a clinic. Any results as far as I know should and would be delivered using the clinic number, or possibly this doctor has a private extension, but it would still be a clinic line. In other words, there's extremely little chance it was them that called.

Uriel.

The rapid test you took after 6 months post exposure is proof that you do not HIV. You have nothing to worry about. Can't even imagine the need to have the rapid test except for psychological reasons.

You have nothing to worry about, time to move on, learn from your past mistakes, do not engage in future risky behaviour.

If you cannot accept the fact that you are HIV negative then you need to see a mental health professional (I say that with all due respect)

LegacyUser

OP you should be ok, stop worrying. I had my test done in September after a number of one night stands over the previous 8 months, 1 of them unprotected and I came back all clear. You will be fine. I'm now back in a committed relationship.

cafecolour

sorryschmorry wrote: »

I was actually looking for factual info though, as in would a false negative on a hiv rapid test ever happen after six months? Would a doctor call once on a blocked number and not leave a message? Would the hospital have results of tests the day after the doctor sent blood tests?

No, a doctor would not call once and not leave a message.

petethebrick

Relax, you don't have HIV - I would bet my house on it. Its hard to contract in the first place Iwithout meaning to be flippant) and a six month test is more than conclusive.

sorryschmorry

Thanks everyone, it all worked out fine! I would recommend anyone who is worried about this kind of thing to go and get checked.

Bottle_of_Smoke

and i'd advise peopel to stay clear of this rapid test! Seems to cause more worry than comfort in every thread I've seen.

Really glad things worked out ok OP, getting your first HIV test is a scary thing to do you are a good example to all

Wompa1

sorryschmorry wrote: »

Thanks everyone, it all worked out fine! I would recommend anyone who is worried about this kind of thing to go and get checked.

Ha Ha yeah..I remember when I last went getting that f'kin thing jammed into my pee-hole to give me new girlfriend at the time piece of mind...
2 nurses and a student nurse in looking at my flute...one of them telling me not to worry it's not as bad as people make it out to be....
The balls on that woman!! How the hell could she know and to state a fact, hell yeah it hurts!!

wealthyman

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Your problem is psychological, not STI related.

It is sooooooooooooo unlikely you are HIV+, espcially if you don't have gay sex or share needles.

Stop worrying, start living!

What a stupid thing to say.

Are you aware that HIV is now more rampant in the hetrosexual community these days?

Doesn't make a blind bit of difference if the OP did have 'gay sex' they are still at risk no matter what gender they had sex with.

Uriel.

wealthyman wrote: »

What a stupid thing to say.

Are you aware that HIV is now more rampant in the hetrosexual community these days?

Doesn't make a blind bit of difference if the OP did have 'gay sex' they are still at risk no matter what gender they had sex with.

While I agree with the sentiment of your post - it most certainly is stupid to downplay the risk of HIV when unprotected sex is involved - and everyone should take responsibility for their sexual health

but,

statistically HIV is much more common in gay (male) community and gay men are generally at a greater risk of HIV infection due to a number of factors.

In absolute terms (even taking out subsaharan africa) their probably is more heterosexual people with HIV/AIDS in the world. but the % of the gay community compared to the heterosexual community with HIV/AIDS is far greater.

One must also consider the non-sexual means of transmission - primarily (narcotic) needle usage (sharing syringes etc...).

Realistically the rate of transfer of HIV in heterosexual (vaginal) intercourse (from an infected female partner to a non infected male partner with no obvious open sores (such as herpes etc...) is quite low. 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 2,000 chance.

The transmission rate is not zero and you are right in the sentiment of your post, people need to be careful and think about the consequences of their actions. 1 in 2,000 is low, but if you are that one.... especially when protection in modern developed society is so easily available.